[Biliary pancreatitis--pathogenesis, therapy, results].

According to current knowledge biliary (gallstone-associated) acute pancreatitis is induced by transient obstruction of the papilla by migrating gall stones. It seems, therefore, rational to remove the occluding stone as early as possible by endoscopic papillotomy (EPT). Uncontrolled studies have shown that patients with acute pancreatitis are not more endangered by EPT than those without pancreatitis and that the intervention seems to beneficially influence the course of the pancreatic disease. Early endoscopy (within 48 h), however, revealed incarcerated papillary stones only in 10% but common bile ducts free of stones in 24%. There seems to be only a small subgroup with acute biliary pancreatitis who might benefit from early EPT. This subgroup should be characterized more precisely. Early EPT indiscriminately performed in any kind of acute pancreatitis has little rational ground and is, up to now, not justified.