Published online Dec 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i47.17962
Revised: July 13, 2014
Accepted: August 13, 2014
Published online: December 21, 2014
Processing time: 241 Days and 0.3 Hours
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic papillary large diameter balloon dilation (EPLBD) following limited endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and EST alone for removal of large common bile duct (CBD) stones.
METHODS: We retrospectively compared EST + EPLBD (group A, n = 64) with EST alone (group B, n = 89) for the treatment of large or multiple bile duct stones. The success rate of stone clearance, procedure-related complications and incidents, frequency of mechanical lithotripsy use, and recurrent stones were recorded.
RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding periampullary diverticula (35.9% vs 34.8%, P > 0.05), pre-cut sphincterotomy (6.3% vs 6.7%, P > 0.05), size (12.1 ± 2.0 mm vs 12.9 ± 2.6 mm, P > 0.05) and number (2.2 ± 1.9 vs 2.4 ± 2.1, P > 0.05) of stones or the diameters of CBD (15.1 ± 3.3 mm vs 15.4 ± 3.6 mm, P > 0.05). The rates of overall stone removal and stone removal in the first session were not significantly different between the two groups [62/64 (96.9%) vs 84/89 (94.4%), P > 0.05; and 58/64 (90.6%) vs 79/89 (88.8%), P > 0.05, respectively]. The rates of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia were not significantly different between the two groups [3/64 (4.7%) vs 4/89 (4.5%), P > 0.05; 7/64 (10.9%) vs 9/89 (10.1%), P > 0.05, respectively]. There were no cases of perforation, acute cholangitis, or cholecystitis in the two groups. The rate of bleeding and the recurrence of CBD stones were significantly lower in group A than in group B [1/64 (1.6%) vs 5/89 (5.6%), P < 0.05; 1/64 (1.6%) vs 6/89 (6.7%), P < 0.05, respectively].
CONCLUSION: EST + EPLBD is an effective and safe endoscopic approach for removing large or multiple CBD stones.
Core tip: Endoscopic papillary large diameter balloon dilation (EPLBD) after limited endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is an effective and safe endoscopic approach to remove large or multiple common bile duct stones. Compared with EST alone, the rate of bleeding and recurrence of CBD stones were significantly lower in the EST + EPLBD group (1.6% vs 5.6%, P < 0.05; 1.6% vs 6.7%, P < 0.05, respectively). While the rates of overall stone removal and stone removal in the first session (96.9% vs 94.4%, P > 0.05; 90.6% vs 88.8%, P > 0.05, respectively) and the rates of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia were not significantly different between the two groups (4.7% vs 4.5%, P > 0.05; 10.9% vs 10.1%, P > 0.05, respectively).