Bile Duct Exploration and T-tube Drainage Procedure without Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Unit in Somalia

The aim of this study is to patients with choledocholithiasis who underwent open exploration with T- tube drainage that can’t undergo ERCP. Materials and methods: Patient age, gender, laboratory workup, period of hospital stay, time of T-tube removal and treatment response were looked back into from the hospital database. All patients underwent MRCP (Magnetic resonance Cholangio pancreatography) preoperatively. There were a total of 16 patients of which 11 (68.8%) were female and 5 (31.2%) were males. Mean a ge was 49.7±15. Common bile duct was 15±7.3 mm in diameter. 8 (50%) of the patients intra -hepatic bile ducts were moderately dilated, the rest 8 (50%) patients were minimally dilated. Bilirubin levels and cholestasis enzymes were elevated. Hospital stay period and T-tube removal time were 15.3 ± 0.9 and 13.7 ± 1 respectively. When ERCP is not available, open bile duct exploration, stone extraction and T-tube drainage can be used for choledocholithiasis treatment as feasible method in the selected patient groups.