Efficacy and safety of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for the removal of bile duct stones: Data from a “real-life” multicenter study on Dilation-Assisted Stone Extraction

Table 1 Patients’ characteristics

Gender (male/female), n (%)	49 (40.8)/71 (59)
Age (years), mean ± SD	67.8 yr ± 15.7
Patients at 1st ERCP, n (%)	91 (75.8)
Patients previously treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy, n (%)	29 (24.2)
Ampullary/periampullary diverticulum, n (%)	37 (30.8)
Bile duct stones size (mm), mean ± SD	15.8 ± 2.9
Bile duct size (mm), mean ± SD	19.2 ± 3.9
Billroth I reconstruction, n (%)	3 (2.5)

Table 2 Final results

Elective ERCP vs rescue ERCP, n (%)	117 (97.5) vs 3 (2.5)
Common bile duct cannulation technique, n (%)
Cannulation of major papilla followed by contrast medium injection	5 (4.2)
Cannulation of major papilla followed by guidewire insertion	105 (87.5)
Pre-cut	10 (8.3)
Involuntary insertion of the guidewire into Wirsung, n (%)	25 (20.8)
Indication for DASE, n (%)
Large stones	83 (69.2)
Periampullary diverticulum	37 (30.8)
DASE, n (%)
As first approach	45 (38)
After stone extraction	75 (62)
Balloon size (mm), mean ± SD	16.7 ± 3.6
Dilation time (s), mean ± SD	51 ± 13.8
Sphincterotomy incision, n (%)
Limited to one-third of the transverse fold	68 (56.7)
Full length of the transverse fold	52 (43.3)
Procedural success, n (%)
Technical success	109 (90.8)
Clinical success	104 (86.7)
Stones extraction, n (%)
Retrieval balloon	61 (51.8)
Dormia basket	59 (49.2)
Post-ERCP pancreatitis prophylaxis, n (%)
None	38 (31.4)
Pancreatic plastic stent	14 (11.8)
Indometacin suppositories	68 (56.8)

ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; DASE: Dilation-Assisted Stone Extraction.

Table 3 Complications after Dilation-Assisted Stone Extraction

Complications, n (%)
No	98 (81.7)
Yes	22 (18.3)
Type of complications, n (%)
Bleeding	11 (9.2)
Post-ERCP pancreatitis	10 (8.3)
Perforation	1 (0.8)
Timing of complications, n (%)
Immediate	8 (6.7)
Within 24 h from the ERCP	11 (9.2)
After 24 h from the ERCP	3 (2.5)
Treatment of complications, n (%)
Medical	13 (10.8)
Endoscopic	8 (6.7)
Surgical	1 (0.8)
Outcome of complications, n (%)
Resolved	21 (17.5)
Unresolved (patient’s exitus)	1 (0.8)

ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; DASE: Dilation-Assisted Stone Extraction.