Abstract
Endoscopic therapy for choledocholithiasis is safe and effective, however, recurrent biliary stones is a common late complication. Since there is still no effective therapies for preventing this complication, some patients underwent recurrence several times. We experienced 2 patients underwent recurrent bile duct stones several times after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). These patients received cholecystectomy before EST and they had large common bile duct and large stones at the time of EST. They received the abdominal massage on right hypochondorial region once a day and incidence of recurrent biliary stones was dramatically reduced. One of 2 patients underwent cholescintigraphy with and without the abdominal massage. The bile outflow from the common bile duct into the duodenum was improved during the abdominal massage. Delayed biliary outflow was improved by the massage and it may help for clearance of bile duct. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the massage therapy, however, the abdominal massage may be helpful to prevent recurrent bile duct stones after endoscopic sphincterotomy.
