PubMed1982
External biliary drainage, the "routine" manner of terminating surgery on the common bile duct, should now become almost obsolete as new methods for operation and exploration during surgery are perfected. A review of cases receiving biliary surgery over a period of 20 years showed that external biliary drainage was conducted in only 4 p. cent of operations on the common bile duct (excluding biliodigestive anastomoses). External biliary drainage should be employed only after due reflection : trans-cystic drainage, the "minor" form, will be indicated less and less as investigational methods during operation develop, while Kehr's drain, the "major" form, will occupy a limited but necessary place in certain cases, primarily in angiocholitis.