title: [Dilatation of the papilla of Vater in the treatment of choledocholithiasis in selected patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively analyze the results obtained with papillary balloon dilatation (PBD) in the treatment of common bile duct stones in patients at risk of complications if endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients were included between January 2001 and June 2003 (mean age 76.2 years). The criteria for PBD were: choledocholithiasis < or =10 mm in patients with peripapillary diverticula, hemostatic alterations, Billroth-II, and preservation of Oddi's sphincter. In 79% of the patients sedation was performed by an anesthetist. PBD was performed with a balloon catheter dilator with a diameter of 8 or 10 mm for 2 minutes. The efficacy and duration of the procedure as well as complications at 30 days and patient satisfaction were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stone extraction was achieved in all patients (100%). The mean duration of the procedure was 26 minutes. Two patients (6%) presented mild pancreatitis. Serum amylase was elevated in 16 patients (48%): > or =3 times (post-PBD hyperamylasemia) in 11 (33%). The procedure caused no discomfort in 25/26 (96%) of the patients sedated by an anesthetist vs 2/5 patients (49%) who underwent endoscopic sedation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PBD is an effective and simple therapeutic option in the treatment of small common bile duct stones (< or =10 mm) and in patients at high risk. The duration of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is not prolonged. Complications are infrequent (6%) and mild. Post-PBD hyperamylasemia is frequent and generally without clinical importance. Sedation by an anesthetist improves patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital de León, León, España. jespinel@telefonica.net
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vivas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jorquera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Olcoz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater; D002404:Catheterization; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies