Endoscopic sphincterotomy in outpatients.
We retrospectively reviewed 137 cases of outpatient endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) performed over a 4-year period in a single center and compared them with an equal number of inpatient ES. The indications for ES in outpatients as compared with inpatients were, respectively: choledocholithiasis, 60% and 70%; papillary stenosis, 35% and 15% (p less than 0.001); stent insertion, 3.6% and 14% (p less than 0.01); and ampullary tumor, 1.4% and 0.7%. Complications were noted within 2 to 4 hours of ES in 6.6% of outpatients, a rate similar to that of inpatients--7.3%. Outpatients with complications were immediately admitted and stayed in the hospital for a mean of 5 days. No delayed complications were noted and no deaths occurred. Thus, a policy whereby selected individuals undergo ES as outpatients, with hospitalization reserved only for those in whom a complication develops, is reasonable and safe.
Podolsky
I
I
Endoscopy Unit, Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Kortan
P
P
Haber
G B
GB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000601:surgery*; D003137:Common Bile Duct Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D009803:Sphincter of Oddi / Q000601:surgery*