Abstract
Experience of endoscopic papillotomy (EPT) with using Erlangen papillotome is discussed. The tip of Erlangen papillotome can be bent into a curve by pulling the handle part, so it is easy to settle the direction of cutting segment of the papilla of Vater as compared with Sohma probe. From June '76 to March '77 EPT has been performed in 32 cases with using Erlangen papillotome. The results are as follows. Indications of EPT were common duct stones after cholecystectomized patients, choledocholithiasis with poor risk patiants, papillary stenosis and others. These indications and number of the patients are shown in Table I In our series selection of patients subjected to EPT mainly depended on their age. Table 2 shows age distribution of patients. The stones of the common bile duct disappeard in 19 out of 28 cases. The spontaneous delivery of the stones was seen in 11 patients and in 6 cases the basket extraction of the stones was performed. In 2 cases combined use of both process was necessitated. Complications developed in 5 patients. Perforation ocurred in 4 cases and resulted in 3 deaths. One patient developed a cholangitis that was required surgical treat-ment. EPT is in doubt effective procedure for the treatment of the common bile duct stones, but further investigastion has to be needed to protect it's complications. Acknowledgement The author wish to thank Prof. E. Seifert (West Germany) for his kind cooperation and advice.Adress of the author 2nd Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tokushima University Kuramotocho, Tokushima City, Japan.
