[Endoscopic papillotomy in East Germany]

Through a survey 751 patients, in whom an endoscopic papillotomy (EPT) had been tried, were registered to the end of 1981. EPT was technically successful in 695 cases (92,5%). Control investigations were available for 650 patients, the aim of therapy being achieved in 594 cases (91,4%). The main indication was choledocholithiasis, 90,2%--among them 10% with gallbladder in situ--followed by benign papillary stenosis without stones (5,9%), carcinoma of the Vaterian papilla (3,2%) and rare indications such as ascaridiasis, choledochocele and stones of the pancreatic duct (0,7%). 53 patients suffered from more serious complications (7,6%), 18 had to be operated on (2,6%), and 7 patients died due to EPT (1%). The results are in agreement with those of other statistics from various countries.