Burdick J Steven, London Alex, Thompson Donald R
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA.
Gastrointest Endosc. 2002 Mar;55(3):425-7. doi: 10.1067/mge.2002.121884.
Therapeutic ERCP is technically complex. A variety of techniques can be used to achieve biliary access when direct cannulation is difficult. Pre-cut papillotomy can provide immediate access, but this technique is associated with an increased risk of complications.
An intramural incision technique is described that uses the false tract created with a guidewire to place a papillotome though the intramural portion of the papilla and unroof the biliary orifice.
Biliary access was achieved in 6 consecutive patients in whom access could not be obtained with either a papillotome or guidewire. No major complication occurred.
By virtue of the incision depth, the intramural incision technique offers a safer approach to biliary access than conventional pre-cut techniques. The technique is simple and will be useful when there is aberrant passage of a guidewire.
