Endoscopic sphincterotomy has become the first line treatment for patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones. This technique may fail, however, due to difficult anatomy, previous surgery, periampullary diverticula or the presence of a large stone. The importance of stone size to the success of endoscopic sphincterotomy has not been fully assessed. A prospective study was carried out over the p...

We report a case of mediastinal and bilateral retro-orbital emphysema following an uncomplicated endoscopic sphincterotomy. The concurrent presence of these complications following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is rare. The simultaneous occurrence of these two complications in the same patient has not been previously reported in the literature. Furthermore, we define the first ...

AIM precut sphincterotomy refers to a variety of endoscopic techniques that are used in order to access the bile duct when conventional methods of cannulation have failed. There are not significant data (such as efficacy, safety) about the use of different techniques of precutting at the same session. We have described our experience with combined precut sphincterotomy (CPS) and we have compare...

Aim: To investigate the rectal and anal sphincter factors that might contribute to the development of fecal incontinence (FI) after anal fissure and rectal prolapse surgery. Methods: Fourteen patients with FI after sphincterotomy (n = 8) and rectal prolapse surgery (n = 6) were studied [clinical assessment, rectosigmoidoscopy, anorectal manometry, including rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) me...

Background—Endoscopicretrogradecholangiopancreatography sphincterotomy is increasingly performed in younger patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, the safety of endoscopic sphincterotomy in this age group, relative to that in older patients, is unknown. Aim—To determine whether the development of short term complications following endoscopic sphincterotomy is age related. Pa...