Unabsorbable suture material—a rare cause of recurrent stones in the common bile-duct

Abstract

Abstract Three cases are reported in which unabsorbable suture material used to ligate the cystic duct at chole-cystectomy was subsequently found within the lumen of the extrahepatic bile-ducts. In 2 cases well-formed gall-stones having a central nucleus of either silk or nylon were removed from the common bile-duct. In the third case two braided nylon sutures were found within the stump of the cystic duct. The use of absorbable suture material for ligating the cystic duct is therefore recommended.