title: Sixty- versus thirty-seconds papillary balloon dilation after sphincterotomy for the treatment of large bile duct stones: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy followed by endoscopic papillary balloon dilation is a promising method for large stones. However, there are no data on the optimal duration of papillary balloon dilation after a biliary sphincterotomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness and complications of the endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for 60s versus 30s after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 124 patients with bile duct stones, submitted for endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy plus endoscopic papillary balloon dilation, were prospectively randomized to either the 60-s dilation group (G60, n = 60) or the 30-s dilation group (G30, n = 64).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complete removal of bile duct stones was similar: group G30, 55/64 (86%) versus group G60, 51/60 (85%); p = 0.9. The rates of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography pancreatitis were also similar: 2 (3.1%) in group G30 versus 2 (3.3%) in group G60, p = 0.9. Post-procedural bleeding occurred in 2 cases (3.1%) in group G30 versus 4 (6.6%) in group G60, (p = 0.17). Two perforations of moderate severity were observed, one in each group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  30-s papillary balloon dilation, performed after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy for the management of bile duct stones, was equally effective to the 60-s papillary balloon dilation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Benizelion General Hospital, Heraklion-Crete, Greece. paspati@admin.teiher.gr
authors.forename: Gregorios A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Paspatis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstantinidis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tribonias
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Voudoukis
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavernaraki
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulou
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chainaki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manolaraki
authors.forename: Gregorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chlouverakis
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vardas
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paraskeva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000209:etiology; D004106:Dilatation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors