[Emergency endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute obstructive cholangitis].

In 45 patients with acute obstructive cholangitis (AOC) endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was performed within 24 hours after admission. Criteria for the diagnosis of AOC were as follows: clinical symptoms consisting of fever and chills, right upper abdominal pain, and jaundice (Charcot's triad) with coexisting laboratory data as elevated WBC, ERS, bilirubin level and evidence of obstructive biliary disease confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The causes of AOC were: in 38 patients (84.5%)--common bile duct stones, in 2 patients (4.5%)--carcinoma of the papilla of Vater, and in 5 patients (11%)--benign stenosis of the papilla of Vater. A rapid clinical improvement was observed in 40 patients after ES. Within 24 hours after ES patients had relief of pain, fever subsided and white blood cell count returned from 11.7 +/- 6.9 G/l to 7.0 +/- 3.0 G/l. Bilirubin level decreased from 101 +/- 86 mumol/l to 77 +/- 68 mumol/l. Endoscopic drainage failed only in 4 patients (9%) who required surgery. One patient (2%)--died. In the treatment of acute obstructive cholangitis urgent endoscopic sphincterotomy should be a method of choice. Surgery should be reserved only for patients in whom ES failed.