Endoscopic sphincterotomy combined with large balloon dilation can reduce the procedure time and fluoroscopy time for removal of large bile duct stones.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of endoscopic sphincterotomy plus large balloon dilation (ESLBD) and to compare procedural time and fluoroscopy time of ESLBD with those of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) alone for patients with large bile duct stones.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


RESULTS
A total of 101 patients with large bile duct stones were treated: 53 were treated by ESLBD and 48 with EST alone. ESLBD resulted in similar outcomes in overall successful stone removal (100% vs. 97%) and complications (4% vs. 6%); however, although the rate of complete stone removal in the first session using ESLBD tended to be higher than when EST alone was used, it was not statistically significant (96% vs. 85%, P=0.057). Mechanical lithotripsy was required significantly more often in the EST group compared to the ESLBD group (25% vs. 6%, P<0.01). Total procedure time in the ESLBD group was significantly shorter than that of the EST group (32 vs. 40 min, P<0.05). Total fluoroscopy time in the ESLBD group was significantly shorter in the EST group (13 vs. 22 min, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
ESLBD is an effective and safe treatment in patients with large bile duct stones. In addition, ESLBD appears to decrease procedure time and fluoroscopy time and reduce the need for mechanical lithotripsy as compared to EST alone.
Itoi
Takao
T
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Japan. itoi@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Itokawa
Fumihide
F
Sofuni
Atsushi
A
Kurihara
Toshio
T
Tsuchiya
Takayoshi
T
Ishii
Kentaro
K
Tsuji
Shujiro
S
Ikeuchi
Nobuhito
N
Moriyasu
Fuminori
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000379:methods