Rendezvous Technique Versus Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography to Treat Bile Duct Stones Reduces Endoscopic Time and Pancreatic Damage (original) (raw)

Background: Endoscopic procedures on Vater's papilla are related to pancreatic damage with or without pathologic increase of pancreatic enzymes. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy is a standard treatment for common bile duct stones, performed sequentially before or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The "rendezvous" (RV) procedure combines laparoscopic cholecystectomy, intra-operative cholangiography, and endoscopic bile duct clearance and is an alternative to the sequential treatment. We tried to analyze relevant differences between the two options concerning the main parameters of pancreatic damage.