Postoperative external and internal biliary fistulas, unassociated with distal bile duct obstruction: endoscopic treatment.

Endoscopic drainage was applied in 14 patients with either external or internal (bile ascites) postoperative biliary fistulas. Endoscopic sphincterotomy and/or insertion of a nasobiliary tube or an endoprosthesis was found to be a safe and effective treatment, achieving closure of fistula in all patients.