Endoscopic sphincterotomy is performed after selective cannulation to remove the gallstone. Endoscopic sphincterotomy can cause complications such as bleeding, perforation and pancreatitis. Various types of endoscopic sphincter incision method and current generators used for incisions have been developed to reduce the incidence of such complications and increase the success rate of the procedure. In addition, guidelines for the direction and extent of endoscopic sphincterotomy and incision technique are established. The method used for the removal of gallstones after the endoscopic sphincterotomy is a method using a balloon and/or a basket. This review introduces the technical methods of endoscopic sphincterotomy and discusses the clinical indications and technical methods for representative methods of effective gallstone removal.
Ampulla of Vater ; Catheterization ; Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Gallstones ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Methods ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an essential method for diagnosis and treatment of various pancreatobiliary diseases and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is the gateway to complete ERCP. Although techniques and instruments for EST have improved, bleeding is still the most common complication. Treatment of immediate post-EST bleeding is important because blood can interfere with subsequent procedures. Additionally, endoscopists should be cautious about delayed bleeding may cause hemobilia, cholangitis, and hemodynamic shock. Most cases of post-EST bleedings will stop spontaneously, however, endoscopic management is necessary in case of clinically significant and persistent bleeding. Various endoscopic methods including epinephrine or fibrin glue injection, electrocoagulation, hemoclipping and band ligation et al can be used through a sideviewing or forward-viewing endoscope similar to those used in hemostasis of peptic ulcer bleeding. Endoscopists who perform ERCP should use various methods of endoscopic hemostasis strategically.
Arm* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Diagnosis ; Electrocoagulation ; Endoscopes ; Epinephrine ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Hemobilia ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Ligation ; Methods ; Peptic Ulcer ; Shock ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an essential method for diagnosis and treatment of various pancreatobiliary diseases and endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is the gateway to complete ERCP. Although techniques and instruments for EST have improved, bleeding is still the most common complication. Treatment of immediate post-EST bleeding is important because blood can interfere with subsequent procedures. Additionally, endoscopists should be cautious about delayed bleeding may cause hemobilia, cholangitis, and hemodynamic shock. Most cases of post-EST bleedings will stop spontaneously, however, endoscopic management is necessary in case of clinically significant and persistent bleeding. Various endoscopic methods including epinephrine or fibrin glue injection, electrocoagulation, hemoclipping and band ligation et al can be used through a sideviewing or forward-viewing endoscope similar to those used in hemostasis of peptic ulcer bleeding. Endoscopists who perform ERCP should use various methods of endoscopic hemostasis strategically.
Arm* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Diagnosis ; Electrocoagulation ; Endoscopes ; Epinephrine ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Hemobilia ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Ligation ; Methods ; Peptic Ulcer ; Shock ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transpapillary forceps biopsy is an effective diagnostic technique in patients with biliary stricture. This prospective study aimed to determine the usefulness of the wire-grasping method as a new technique for forceps biopsy. METHODS: Consecutive patients with biliary stricture or irregularities of the bile duct wall were randomly allocated to either the direct or wire-grasping method group. In the wire-grasping method, forceps in the duodenum grasps a guide-wire placed into the bile duct beforehand, and then, the forceps are pushed through the papilla without endoscopic sphincterotomy. In the direct method, forceps are directly pushed into the bile duct alongside a guide-wire. The primary endpoint was the success rate of obtaining specimens suitable for adequate pathological examination. RESULTS: In total, 32 patients were enrolled, and 28 (14 in each group) were eligible for analysis. The success rate was significantly higher using the wire-grasping method than the direct method (100% vs 50%, p=0.016). Sensitivity and accuracy for the diagnosis of cancer were comparable in patients with the successful procurement of biopsy specimens between the two methods (91% vs 83% and 93% vs 86%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The wire-grasping method is useful for diagnosing patients with biliary stricture or irregularities of the bile duct wall.
Bile Ducts ; Biliary Tract ; Biopsy* ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Duodenum ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Methods* ; Prospective Studies* ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Surgical Instruments*

PURPOSE: Cholecystectomy in patients with an intact gallbladder after endoscopic removal of stones from the common bile duct (CBD) remains controversial. We conducted a case-control study to determine the risk of recurrent CBD stones and the benefit of cholecystectomy for prevention of recurrence after endoscopic removal of stones from the CBD in Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 317 patients who underwent endoscopic CBD stone extraction between 2006 and 2012 were included. Possible risk factors for the recurrence of CBD stones including previous cholecystectomy history, bile duct diameter, stone size, number of stones, stone composition, and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up after CBD stone extraction was 25.4+/-22.0 months. A CBD diameter of 15 mm or larger [odds ratio (OR), 1.930; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.098 to 3.391; p=0.022] and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum (OR, 1.859; 95% CI, 1.014 to 3.408; p=0.045) were independent predictive factors for CBD stone recurrence. Seventeen patients (26.6%) in the recurrence group underwent elective cholecystectomy soon after endoscopic extraction of CBD stones, compared to 88 (34.8%) in the non-recurrence group; the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.212). CONCLUSION: A CBD diameter of 15 mm or larger and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum were found to be potential predictive factors for recurrence after endoscopic extraction of CBD stones. Elective cholecystectomy after clearance of CBD stones did not reduce the incidence of recurrent CBD stones in Korean patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology/surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy/*methods ; Common Bile Duct/*pathology/radiography ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Gallstones/epidemiology/*surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; *Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

No abstract available.
Biliary Tract Diseases/*surgery ; Catheterization/*methods ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic/*methods

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several precut techniques have been used to gain biliary access for difficult cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success and complication rates of two precut techniques, transpancreatic septotomy (TPS) and needle knife infundibulotomy (NKI), in difficult biliary cannulation due to the presence of unintended pancreatic cannulation. METHODS: Eighty-six patients who failed standard biliary cannulation were included. TPS was performed when we failed to achieve biliary access despite 5 minutes of attempted cannulation or when more than three attempted unintended pancreatic cannulations occurred. If deep cannulation was not achieved within 5 minutes for any duct, NKI was performed. If this failed, we crossed over to the other technique in the second attempt. RESULTS: The initial total success rate of biliary cannulation was 88.4% (86.6% for the TPS group and 94.7% for the NKI group, p=0.447). After crossover of the techniques, the final success rate was 95.3%. The complication rate was 20.9% in patients with TPS and 15.8% in patients with NKI (p=0.753). CONCLUSIONS: The use of different strategies based on the presence of unintended pancreatic cannulation may help increase the success rate for difficult biliary cannulation without increasing complication rates.
Aged ; Bile Ducts/surgery ; Biliary Tract Diseases/*surgery ; Catheterization/adverse effects/instrumentation/*methods ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde/adverse effects/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic/adverse effects/instrumentation/*methods ; Surgical Instruments ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have shown the usefulness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were excluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. CONCLUSIONS: ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited success rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis, Acute/*surgery ; Drainage/*methods ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Gallbladder/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have shown the usefulness of endoscopic nasogallbladder drainage (ENGBD) in patients with acute cholecystitis. However, the procedure is difficult, and factors that affect technical success have not yet been clarified. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficacy, and predictive factors for the technical success of ENGBD in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: All patients with moderate or severe acute cholecystitis who were enrolled underwent ENGBD between April 2009 and April 2011. Patients with surgically altered anatomy or pancreatobiliary malignancies were excluded. The primary outcomes included technical success, clinical success, and complications. Factors that could affect the technical success were also examined. RESULTS: Of the 27 patients who underwent ENGBD during the study period, technical success was achieved in 21 (78%) and clinical improvement was achieved in 20 (95%). Early complications were encountered in four patients (15%). Gallbladder wall thickness (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.47) and age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.35) were effective predictors of technical failure. CONCLUSIONS: ENGBD was effective in resolving acute cholecystitis; however, this modality was technically challenging and had a limited success rate. Because of technical difficulties, ENGBD should be reserved for limited indications.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholecystitis, Acute/*surgery ; Drainage/*methods ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Gallbladder/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is sometimes difficult to incise the distal papillary roof (PR) completely in patients with choledocholiths and choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF). The Iso-Tome(R) (MTW-Endoskopie W. Haag KG), which is helpful in preventing electrical leakage, has good orientation capabilities and can be easily placed at the orifice of the CDF or ampulla of Vater (AV). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with the Iso-Tome(R) for cutting the distal PR. METHODS: Between May 2003 and July 2012, 35 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The distal PR was cut downward and/or upward using the Iso-tome(R) until the pink intrapapillary mucosa was fully exposed. Downward incisions were performed from the opening of the CDF to the orifice of the AV; upward incisions were performed in reverse. RESULTS: Spontaneous or artificial CDF occurred in four and 31 patients, respectively. The technical and therapeutic success rates were 94.3% (33/35) and 94.3% (33/35), respectively. There was no case of electrical damage to the pink intrapapillary mucosa. Adverse events occurred in 2.9% (1/35; 1, mild bleeding) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The new technique of ES with the Iso-tome(R) is feasible and useful for effectively incising the distal PR in patients with CDF and choledocholiths.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ampulla of Vater/surgery ; Biliary Fistula/*surgery ; Choledocholithiasis/*surgery ; Common Bile Duct Diseases/*surgery ; Duodenal Diseases/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic/*instrumentation/methods ; Treatment Outcome