title: Endoscopic sphincterotomy for cholangitis after recent coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: It is particularly attractive to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy for cholangitis due to common bile duct stone because of the increased morbidity and mortality of the alternative therapy of choledochal exploration. The safety of therapeutic ERCP after recent myocardial injury is unknown since there are only five previously reported cases. Three patients underwent therapeutic ERCP after recent coronary artery bypass graft surgery for indication of recent cholangitis due to choledochal stones. Initially, the cholangitis was managed medically in all patients. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was performed 11, 17, and 14 days after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The calculi were successfully extracted by sweeping the choledochus with a balloon-tipped catheter or basket in all cases. During ERCP the vital signs remained stable; no cardiac arrhythmias, hemorrhage, or pulmonary complications occurred. Our study demonstrates that therapeutic ERCP is not absolutely contraindicated after recent myocardial injury and suggests that ES is preferable to surgery for cholangitis due to common bile duct stones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy and Motility Unit, Central Hospital, Ethnikis Aminis 41, TT 54635 Thessaloniki, Greece. pantso@the.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katsinelos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimiropoulos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paroutoglou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsolkas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galanis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katsiba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baltagiannis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miliou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capelidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kamperis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D002404:Catheterization; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants