[Surgical complications following endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic manipulations of the papilla Vateri].

The indications for retrograde cholangiopancreatography and for endoscopic papillotomy from the surgeon's view point are discussed. Endoscopic papillotomy is an operation of insufficient volume in chronic pancreatitis with obstacles along the Wirsungian's duct and in bile duct calculosis in younger age. These cases require surgical intervention or its association with endoscopic manipulations. Summarized data are reported on the risk after diagnostic or therapeutic procedures: complications may develop in 1 to 3.6 per cent after retrograde cholangiopancreatography and in 4 to 10 per cent after endoscopic papillotomy. Mortality rates are accordingly 0-0.015 per cent after the diagnostic and 0-5.8 per cent after the therapeutic procedure. Eight personal observations are described, 5 of them after endoscopic papillotomy. Six operated patients died. It is emphasized that, regardless of the existing risk, endoscopic manipulations should be performed with strict observance of the indications.