[Endoscopic transpapillary splitting of a choledochocele (author's transl)]

A choledochocele with obstruction to outflow from the biliary and pancreatic duct systems was diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography in a 67-year-old man with radiating upper-abdominal pain and constantly elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase. After distension of the choledochocele with contrast medium a papillotome was introduced across the papilla and the choledochocele was split open. There were no complications and flow from both systems became normal. The symptoms disappeared and the patient required neither anaesthesia nor an abdominal operation.