[Comparative evaluation of the results of traditional and laser papillosphincterotomy]

The techniques of papillosphincterotomy were improved on the basis of CO2 laser and special laser tools. The results of 212 routine and 114 laser papillosphincterotomies were appraised. With the laser techniques, the incidence of postoperative complications reduced to 14% as compared to 23.6% with the routine method. The incidence of postoperative pancreatitis decreased from 7.5% to 4.3%, the destructive pancreatitis mortality, from 4.7% to 0.9%. The long-term results provide evidence for laser papillosphincterotomy.