Objective To assess the efficacy of endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation(EPBD)for bile duct stones.Methods Four hundred and six patients with bile duct stones who had been treated by ERCP from January 2000 to December 2000 were divided into EST group(n=205)and EPBD group(n=201)according to the admission time.The differences upon incidences of early and long-term complications,clearance rate of bile duct stones between the 2 groups were detected.Results There was no significant difierence upon the incidence of early complications.clearance rate of bile duct stones and incidence of pancreatitis between the 2 groups(χ2=0.540.0.058.0.010,P＞0.05).The incidence of eholecystitis and recurrence rate of bile duet stones in EST group were significantly higher than those in EPBD group(χ2=4.002,4.263,P＜0.05).Conclusions The incidence of cholecystitis and recurrence rate of bile duct stones after patients being treated by EPBD are significandy lower than EST.EPBD is superior to EST in protecting the sphincter of Oddi.