End-to-side choledochoduodenostomy: A widely applicable procedure for biliary reconstruction

End-to-side choledochoduodenostomy was originally used for reconstruction between the duodenum and the biliary tree in iatrogenic bile duct stricture. However, we believe the procedure could be applied for various biliary disorders. We have recently shown the high carcinogenicity of biliary epithelium in patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, and consequently we recommend excision of the bile duct, along with appropriate reconstruction of the biliary system to divert the flow of pancreatic juice from bile fluid, to prevent carcinoma in biliary epithelium even in patients without dilatation of the bile duct. The conditions causing primary or recurrent bile duct stones must be removed. We employed this procedure for biliary reconstruction in 42 patients with pancreatico-biliary maljunction and in 30 patients with various benign biliary diseases, such as bile duct stones and benign biliary stenosis. We also used the procedure for palliation in 6 patients with malignant tumors around the head of the pancreas. Among these 78 patients over 20 years, we experienced 5 cases of reflux cholangitis with anastomotic stenosis, for which conservative dilatation was required. This procedure of end-to-side choledochoduodenostomy could be widely applicable for biliary reconstruction in terms of its being simplicity, minimal invasiveness and the establishment of a single physiological route for bile flow into the duodenum.