title: [Endosonographic examination of the common bile duct in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the objective of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the study of the common bile duct in patients diagnosed with acute biliary pancreatitis, and to establish clinical and laboratory factors related to this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  seventy-three consecutive patients with acute biliary pancreatitis were included in the study (31 males and 42 females with a mean age of 64 +/- 15) who were admitted to our department for biliopancreatic EUS. In all patients the technique was followed by ERCP with sphincterotomy, and endoscopy to remove stones when endoscopy revealed choledocholithiasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mean time from admission to echoendoscopy was 7 +/- 6 days. In 18 patients (24%) the presence of choledocholithiasis was revealed by EUS, and in 17 a sphincterotomy was performed. Choledocholithiasis was more frequent in patients with common bile duct dilation (55 vs. 14%; p < 0.05). Thirteen patients (18%) showed severe acute pancreatitis. Fourteen (19%) showed complications related to acute pancreatitis, and one patient died. Four patients had a new episode of acute pancreatitis. No significant difference was seen in the percentage of complications between patients treated conservatively and patients with choledocholithiasis treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy (18 vs. 22%; p > 0.05). No difference was also detected for the subgroup of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (45 vs. 55%; p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EUS is a useful technique for the selection of patients with acute biliary pancreatitis who may benefit from endoscopic sphincterotomy.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo. arepiso@sescam.jccm.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Repiso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Vela
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pérez-Grueso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Carrobles