[The development of endoscopic papillotomy in East Germany]

Up to the middle of 1985 a survey of endoscopic papillotomy (EPT) had been carried out in the GDR resulting in 3124 patients from 8 centers.

choledocholithiasis 90.6% (13.1% with a T-drain, 16.2% with a gallbladder in situ); papillary stenosis 4.4%; tumors of the papilla 2.2%; other indications 2.2%. The common bile duct got free of stones in 89.3% of 2210 documented cases after successful EPT. In comparison to former results in 1982, 1983 and 1984 (cumulated data) the technical success rate of EPT rose slightly, but steadily to 95.3%, and the complication rate fell to 5.8%. Bleeding was the most common complication followed by cholangitis, pancreatitis, basket impaction and perforation. 30 patients (0.96%) died due to complications, 14 with pancreatitis, 7 cholangitis, 7 bleeding, 2 perforation.