Endoscopic sphincterotomy: a procedure of choice in the management of retained common bile duct stones and papillary stenosis.

Endoscopic sphincterotomy was attempted in 58 patients and was successful in 48 (81 percent). The findings in these 48 patients were as follows: 43 had choledocholithiasis, 3 had papillary stenosis, and 2 had a lower common bile duct polyp. The morbidity rate was 8.3 percent. No emergency laparotomy was required and there was no mortality. Duodenoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe method for relieving some common conditions of extrahepatic cholestasis. In expert hands the complication and mortality rates appear lower than with conventional surgical techniques.