Endoscopic sphincterotomy and gallstone pancreatitis: some answers and more fuel for the flames

We review standard management for patients with gallstones and common duct stones in the light of endoscopic sphincterotomy. As the sole treatment that procedure needs to be compared to surgical approaches, but now that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is available, there is some uncertainty about which surgical option should stand in comparison. We review salient points in the literature to urge further long term prospective comparisons of endoscopic sphincterotomy and surgical approaches.