Does the endoscopic sphincterotomy of the ampulla of Vater destroy the bile flow mechanism?
Endoscopic sphincterotomy of the ampulla of Vater was performed in seven patients suffering from gallstones in the common bile duct and/or bile flow stasis. After this procedure, spontaneous delivery of gallstones occurred in two cases and a gallstone was extracted by our basket-tipped catheter in two cases. The electromyogram of the sphincter of Oddi after endoscopic sphincterotomy showed the similar patterns and rhythms to those before this procedure. Thus, the function (bile flow mechanism) of the sphincter was not destroyed by this procedure. Morphologic and physiologic data, therefore, lead to the conclusion that endoscopic sphincterotomy is a safe and useful procedure.
