Endoscopic and radiologic management of pancreatic and biliary tract diseases

Therapeutic biliary and pancreatic endoscopy has evolved over the last 30 years to a level where it represents the primarily mode of therapy for many frequently encountered diseases of the bile ducts liver and pancreas. The complication rates are expected to be low and the expectations of our colleagues are high. The endoscopist is expected to understand the origin and natural history of these diseases and the consequences of the various management options. The training of the endoscopist has taken on a very formal character, as has the emphasis on competency and quality improvement. The appearance of minimally invasive surgery and advanced imaging does not represent a threat to the biliary endoscopist but rather is complimentary and assists us so that unnecessary potentially morbid procedures are not done unnecessarily. The appearance of a new specialty: the minimally invasive biliary interventionalist, who would receive training by gastroenterologists, interventional radiologist and biliary-pancreatic surgeons, is the logical next step!