Recurrence of biliary symptoms after endoscopic sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis in patients with gall bladder stones

Background : There are a few reports regarding the long‐term results of endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). However, little data is available on the recurrence of biliary symptoms after EST for choledocholithiasis, in patients with gall bladder stones. Methods : All patients had gall bladder and common bile duct stones (n = 60; age 32–84 years, median age 55 years), and had received an EST. One group of these patients had a laparoscopic or open cholecystecomy (n = 39; group A), while the other group did not (n = 21; group B). The follow‐up period ranged from 5 to 54 months (average 22 months). Results : Complications included the recurrence of common bile duct stones, recurrent acute cholecystitis, postoperative bile leakage and papillary stenosis. Nine patients (15%) had a recurrence of biliary symptoms. Two significant prognostic factors for the recurrence of biliary symptoms were identified by multivariate analysis; namely an intact gall bladder and a dilated common bile duct. The recurrence rate of biliary symptoms in group B was 20.4%, while in group A it was 10.3% (P < 0.01). Patients with a larger than average common bile duct diameter (mean diameter 14 mm) were more prone to the recurrence of symptoms than those with a smaller common bile duct diameter (mean diameter 10 mm, P < 0.016). The hospital stay period was 8.9 ± 3.1 days in group A and 2.8 ± 1.9 days in group B (P < 0.01). Conclusions : Biliary symptom recurrence occurred in a considerable proportion of patients after EST for the treatment of choledocholithiasis, in patients with gall bladder stones. The prognostic factors associated with the recurrence of biliary symptoms were an intact gall bladder and a dilated common bile duct diameter. Regardless of their short stay in hospital, non‐cholecystectomy patients had a higher rate of recurrent biliary symptoms than cholecystectomy patients.