[Therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (author's transl)].

Endoscopic papillotomy is a further development of endoscopic cholangiography. This therapeutic procedure was successful in 516 (94.7%) of 545 cases. Choledocholithiasis (405 cases) and papillary stenosis (97) were the main indications for the procedure. Of 405 patients with choledocholithiasis, 376 (93%) are now free of stones. There were 38 (7.4%) complications and 5 (1%) of these had a lethal outcome with (11) (2%) requiring emergency laparotomy. Cholangitis was the most serious complication. It is becoming increasingly evident that the endoscopic papillotomy is replacing reoperation in many cases of choledocholithiasis.