Biliary sphincterotomy plus dilation with a large balloon for bile duct stones that are difficult to extract.
BACKGROUND
Bile duct stones are still present in 10% to 15% of patients after the application of conventional endoscopic extraction techniques and require additional procedures for duct clearance. In the vast majority of these cases, there are 2 main problems: large stone size (>15 mm) and tapering of distal bile duct.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients in whom endoscopic sphincterotomy and standard basket/balloon extraction were unsuccessful in the removal of bile duct stones underwent dilation with a 10- to 20-mm diameter (esophageal/pyloric type) balloon at the same session. In 18 patients with tapered distal bile ducts (Group 1), 12- to 18-mm diameter balloon catheters were used to enlarge the orifice. In 40 patients with square, barrel shaped and/or large (>15mm) stones (Group 2), the sphincterotomy orifice was enlarged with 15- to 20-mm diameter balloon catheters. After dilatation, standard basket/balloon extraction techniques were used to remove the stone(s).


RESULTS
Stone clearance was successful in 16 patients (89%) in Group 1 and 35 (95%) in Group 2. Complications occurred in 9 (15.5%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Dilation with a large-diameter balloon after endoscopic sphincterotomy is a useful alternative technique in patients with bile duct stones that are difficult to remove with standard methods.
Ersoz
Galip
G
Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Izmir, Turkey.
Tekesin
Oktay
O
Ozutemiz
Ahmet Omer
AO
Gunsar
Fulya
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome