Endoscopic management of bile duct stones at Auckland Hospital in 1988 and 1989.
OBJECTIVE
to define the role of endoscopic management of bile duct calculi in a tertiary referral institution.


METHODS
an unselected series of 466 patients presenting for ERCP over a two year period were reviewed and 103 patients with bile duct calculi identified. The results of endoscopic management of these patients is reviewed.


RESULTS
endoscopic sphincterotomy was successful in 98% of patients, and resulted in clearance of calculi from the bile duct in 75%, and in a further 8% symptoms were successfully controlled by sphincterotomy with or without endoprostheses, despite residual calculi. Seventy-nine percent of the patients with choledocholithiasis were successfully managed endoscopically, minor complications occurring in 16% which were significant in only 4%, with no procedure related mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
endoscopic sphincterotomy provides a safe and effective means of managing bile duct calculi, even if stone extraction cannot be completed.
Wong
P Y
PY
Auckland Hospital.
Lane
M R
MR
Hamilton
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic