Introduction:

Bile duct stenosis is an infrequent condition, but it seriously affects patient morbidity. The vast majority of cases occur after hepatobiliary surgery, cholecystectomy being the most common of such surgeries. Early recognition and an appropriate multidisciplinary approach are the cornerstones to achieve optimal final results.

Objective:

Describe the endoscopic treatment of patients with postcholecystectomy stenosis cared for at the Institute of Gastroenterology in Cuba.

Methods:

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted of the patients diagnosed with postcholecystectomy bile duct stenosis. Determination was made of sociodemographic, clinical and endoscopic variables of interest.

Results:

A total 16 patients were studied. There was a predominance of women aged under 50 years. 75% of the patients had a history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The most common bile duct stenoses were types I and III by Bismuth's classification. The most frequent therapeutic management was endoscopic treatment by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) with placement of multiple plastic prostheses.

Conclusions:

Endoscopic procedures have become the treatment of choice in postcholecystectomy stenosis. They are less invasive, their morbidity and mortality are low, and their results are comparable to those of non-endoscopic surgical procedures.

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