AN EXPERIENCE OF USING THE COVERED TYPE SPHINCTEROTOME

Abstract

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) has become increasingly safe because of establishment of its technique and improvement of its device, and the indication has become wider. But complications related to EST still occasionally occur, and minimising complica-tions of sphincterotomy is a very important issue. We have designed a sphincterotome whose proximal cutting wire is covered with fluorine (made by Olympus). We used either this sphincterotome or regular type sphincter-otome, and assessed their advantages and disadvantages. In 14 pations, EST was perrf or-med with this covered type sphincterotome, and the regular type sphincterotome was employed in 17 patients. As a result, no complication relevant to sphincterotomy occured, and EST was successful in all patients. With the use of the covered type sphincterotome, we could prevent contact of cutting wire with either the endoscope or the duodenal wall oral to the papilla. In addition, EST with only the distal part of the cutting wire contributed to reduction of complications. This device appeared to provide safe EST without fail.