title: Endoscopic sphincterotomy in high-risk patients with biliary tract disease.
abstract: Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 53 patients with biliary tract disease who were considered to be at high risk from conventional surgical procedures. Forty-five patients had choledocholithiasis, while eight had miscellaneous disorders including carcinoma, stenosis of the papilla, and postoperative biliary fistulae. Forty-three of 45 patients with choledocholithiasis have been free of symptoms since the procedure, and most have had repeat retrograde cholangiography confirming the absence of bile duct-stones. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe and effective procedure in selected high-risk patients, particularly those with choledocholithiasis after cholecystectomy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000601:surgery*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002758:Cholangiography; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D009803:Sphincter of Oddi / Q000601:surgery*