Medium and long-term complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis

The medium and long-term complications of endoscopic sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis were examined in patients referred to an endoscopy centre in an area general hospital. One hundred and thirty-eight patients were reviewed between 6 months and 7 years after successful endoscopic sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis. The procedure was carried out post-cholecystectomy in 69 (50%) and with the gallbladder in situ in 69 patients. Four post-cholecystectomy patients and 10 with intact gallbladders had died by the time of review. A postal questionnaire was completed by the remaining 124 patients. Sixty-two post-cholecystectomy and 49 with gallbladders still intact remained symptom-free at follow-up. Eight patients had had the sphincterotomy as a preliminary to cholecystectomy. There were persistent symptoms in three post-cholecystectomy and two with intact gallbladders. Medium to long-term complications are uncommon after endoscopic sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis.