title: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography management of common bile duct stones in a surgical unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Choledocholithiasis, if left untreated, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The management of such a problem has progressed tremendously but controversy still exists as to ideal management, laparoscopic exploration or endoscopic retrograde pancreatography with sphincterotomy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a surgical unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review on 336 patients who underwent ERCP between 1997-2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We achieved a successful cannulation rate of 98% and stone clearance rate exceeding 90%. Morbidity has been minimal and there was no mortality in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that ERCP is an effective and safe surgical alternative for the management of choledocholithiasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore. chencm@excite.com
authors.forename: Chung-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Khoon-Hean
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hoe
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salleh
authors.forename: Swee Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies