542 patients were subjected to ERCP at various periods after cholecystectomy. In this selected patient material there was a 56% incidence of morphological abnormalities in the biliary system, stenosis of the papilla and choledocholithiasis being the most frequent pathological findings. Laboratory examinations proved to be irrelevant with respect to the morphology of the bile ducts. A direct relationship between the clinical symptoms and the surgical procedure was established only in cases presenting with biliary duct stenosis (11% of all cases examined). In the majority of patients the postcholecystectomy complaints were due to incorrect surgical indication or inadequate surgical technique. Postcholecystectomy syndrome can be prevented by more accurate evaluation of the patient prior to and during surgery.