[Reflux into the pancreatic duct during peroperative biliary radiomanometry. Report of 200 cases (author's transl)]

The authors have observed 200 cases of reflux into the pancreatic duct out of 2,500 biliary operations with radiomanometry. Out of the 200 cases, 109 were functional, i.e. due to a common duct with or without an ampoule of Vater, or due to duodenal stockage whether there was a common duct or not. They had no therapeutic consequence. 38 were organic due to an obstruction (impacted gall stone, or odditis which favours reflux) and needed sphincterotomy especially when the pancreatic duct was dilated. In 53 cases, no organic or anatomical explanation was found. Reflux occurring at physiological pressures is more likely to be functional. The degree of reflux does not always depend on the increase in perfusion pressure. The time of the reflux depends partly on its nature. Early reflux is found mainly in cases of obstruction. Reflux secondary to passage into the duodenum is mainly found in functional reflux with stockage. Wirsung's duct is dilated in more than 75% of cases with obstruction and in only 3 cases out of 20 with functional reflux. Reflux into Santorini's duct is 3 times more common when there is papillary obstruction.