title: Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation in cirrhotic patients: removal of common bile duct stones without sphincterotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is a less invasive alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). This study reviews a series of cirrhotic patients with bile duct stones who were treated with EPBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  EPBD was used to remove common bile duct stones in nine cirrhotic patients (one in Child-Pugh grade A, four in grade B, and four in grade C). After the papilla was dilated with balloon-tipped catheter, the stones were removed with a retrieval basket catheter or a retrieval balloon, or both. Mechanical lithotripsy was required in two patients with stones of more than 1 cm in diameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clearance of the common bile duct was achieved in all patients without any serious complications such as hemorrhage or perforation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that EPBD is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of common bile duct stones in patients with liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Second Dept. of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiratori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic