THE VALUE OF ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF COMPLICATIONS AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Abstract

This study reviews the value of endoscopic retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients presenting with complications after laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. Nine consesutive patients were studied in a two-year period. One patient had complete bile duct obstruction. There was biliary leakage in three patients and they were successfully treated with endoscopic sphincterotomy. ERCP showed common bile duct stones in two patients. Endoscopic sphincterotomy and ductal clearance were successful in both cases. In one patient the external view of the Vater's papilla suggested a spontaneously dropped bile duct stone. In two cases ERCP disclosed some unrelated pathologies overlooked at operation (one pancreatic cancer and one juxtapapillary diverticula). We suggest that ERCP is recommended as a valuable method to diagnose the complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and that some complications can be also treated endoscopically.