Endoscopic sphincterotomy--experience with 110 patients.

During the last two years, 116 endoscopic sphincterotomies (ES) were attempted in 110 patients. The indication for ES was choledocholithiasis in 102 (93%) patients, including 37 (36.2%) with gallbladder in situ and 65 (64%) post-cholecystectomy patients; the other 8 (7%) were performed for stricture of the lower end of the common bile duct (CBD) with cholangitis (2), insertion of nasobiliary drain (2), restenosis after previous sphincterotomy (1), stone in the cystic duct stump causing cholangitis (1), papillary stenosis (1) and post-cholecystectomy cholangitis with no obvious cause (1). ES was achieved in 113 (97.4%) attempts in 107 (97%) patients and was overall successful in 81% of patients. Of the 95 patients with choledocholithiasis in whom ES could be performed and a follow-up was available, 79 (83%) cleared their CBD. Of 98 patients with choledocholithiasis, 79 (80.6%) finally cleared their CBD of stones. Three patients developed complications, one needing emergency operation. There were no deaths. ES was found to be effective in patients with retained stones and also in patients with choledocholithiasis with gallbladder in situ, especially those who were poor surgical risk.