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Biliary sphincterotomy dilation for the extraction of difficult common bile duct stones
J García-Cano1, L Taberna Arana, C Jimeno Ayllón
1Department of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Virgen de la Luz, Cuenca, Spain. j.garcia-cano@terra.es
Background And Aim:
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with biliary sphincterotomy (BS) is the usual method for extracting common bile duct stones. However, following BS and by means of extraction balloons and Dormia baskets a complete bile duct clearance cannot be achieved in all cases. We present a study on the impact that hydrostatic balloon dilation of a previous BS (BSD) may have in the extraction rate of choledocholithiasis.
Patients And Methods:
A prospective study which included 91 consecutive patients diagnosed with choledocholithiasis who underwent ERCP. For stone removal, extraction balloons and Dormia baskets were used, and when necessary BSD was employed.
Results:
Complete bile duct clearance was achieved in 86/91 (94.5%) patients. BSD was used in 30 (33%) cases. In these cases, extraction was complete in 29/30 (97%); 23 (76%) patients in the BSD group had anatomic difficulties or bleeding disorders. The most frequently used hydrostatic balloon diameter was 15 mm (60%). There were 7 (7.6%) complications: two self-limited hemorrhage episodes in the BSD group and one episode of cholangitis, one of pancreatitis, and three of bleeding in the group in which BSD was not used.
Conclusions:
BSD is a very valuable tool for extracting common bile duct stones. In our experience, there has been an increase in the extraction rate from 73% (Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2002; 94: 340-50) to 94.5% (p = 0.0001, OR 0.1, CI 0.05-0.45), with no increase in complications.
