1982 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 467-472_1
An unfused pancreatic duct system is the condition in which the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts are unfused embriologically, so pancreatic drainage is mainly through the accessory papilla. In endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, it is easy to demonstrate short ventral duct by cannulation of main papilla usually. But cannulation of the accessory papilla is technically so difficult that success rate of cannulating accessory papilla have been reported to be still very low (0-51%). We devised a narrowed tip ERCP cannula (diameter of the tip is about 0.1-0.2 mm) to improve success rate of cannulating accessory papilla because usually ordinary ERCP cannula is too big to make cannulation of accessory papilla. Success rate of cannulating accessory papilla using this narrowed tip ERCP cannula was 100% in six patients with an unfused pancreatic duct system, and dorsal pancreatic duct have been all clearly demonstrated within 5 minutes after insertion of duodeno-fiberscope. Techneque of cannulating accessory papilla by this cannula is very easy, and no complication was experienced. We think this new device is very useful for cannulation of accessory papilla especially those in ERP of an unfused pancreatic duct system. Success rate of cannulating accessory papilla in ERP of an unfused pancreatic duct system will be improved very much by this method.
