Common bile duct and Oddi sphincter pressure before and after endoscopic papillotomy in patients with common bile duct stones.

Pressures in the Oddi sphincter and common bile duct were determined before, immediately after and several weeks after endoscopic papillotomy. Fifteen patients were included in the study. Significant decreases in Oddi sphincter and common bile duct pressures were found and the decrease in Oddi sphincter pressure was to some extent dependent upon the length of the papillotomy.