[Dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi as a cause of so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome]

In up to 30% of cases of the so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome functional disturbances of the sphincter of Oddi are responsible for the clinical picture. These pathological changes in pressure and motility at the sphincter can be identified by means of endoscopic manometry. We found dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi in 4 out of 10 patients with so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome. In 2 patients in whom the basal pressure was higher than 40 mmHg endoscopic papillotomy was performed, after which the patients remained symptom-free. In one case tachyoddi was diagnosed and in another case the proportion of retrograde sphincter contractions exceeded 50%. Endoscopic manometry at the sphincter of Oddi enables many of the as yet unclarified postcholecystectomy symptoms to be identified.