A Stent-Guided Sphincterotomy in Patients with a Difficult Periampullary Diverticulum or with a Billroth-II Gastrectomy

Background/Aims: Patients with a congenitally or surgically altered anatomy such as a large diverticulum in which an ampullary orifice exists or a Billroth-II gastrectomy, have an increased complication rate after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) compared to normal anatomies. An experience involving a stent-guided sphincterotomy using an endoprosthesis is herein reported. Methods: 10 patients with a Billroth-II gastrectomy and 9 patients with a large diverticulum received a stent-guided EST. In the diverticula cases, all the ampullary orifices were located either inside the diverticulum or in an unusual position. All patients had common bile duct stones and symptoms of cholangitis. After a 0.035 inch guide wire was inserted through the side-viewing duodenoscope, a 10 Fr. endoprosthesis (MTW, Germany) was inserted and a needle-knife sphincterotome was introduced. In patients with a Billroth-II anatomy, the incision was made from the papillary orifice of the 12 o'clock position toward 6 o'clock. In patients with periampullary diverticula, the incision was made with sweeps of the needle-knife in a 6 to 12 o'clock direction. The cautery current was applied to the mucosa along the stent and the stent was retrieved by a polypectomy snare through the biopsy channel without removal of an endoscope. Results: Among the 19 patients, the guide wire and stent insertion were possible in all except one patient due to the inability of selective cannulation. An EST was performed in all patients after stent insertion. There were no serious complications during and after the stent-guided EST except for two minor bleedings which were treated with a coagulation current using the needle-knife. Consequently, complete endoscopic stone removal was achieved in all patients including three patients in whom a mechanical lithotriptor was needed. Conclusions: In stent-guided EST, the stent not only guides the adequate direction of the incision but also allows a controlled incision under a favorable visual field. Therefore, blind cutting and exploration during EST can be avoided and successful EST is possible even in difficult situations such as that created by an altered anatomy. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2000;20:26~32)ope