COMPARATIVE STUDY
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Rendezvous technique versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to treat bile duct stones reduces endoscopic time and pancreatic damage.

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.

METHODS: Thirty-eight patients treated for biliary stones were divided into two groups of 19 patients depending on the type of treatment (RV vs. ERCP) and were compared for post-procedural amylase and lipase levels; the duration of the endoscopic procedures, effectiveness, and complications were also recorded.

RESULTS: A pathologic increase of serum amylase occurred in 15.7% of the RV group and 47.3% of the ERCP group with significant differences regarding amylase levels in the 6- and 66-hour samples (p < 0.003; p < 0.006). The mean duration of endoscopic procedure was significantly shorter in the RV group (17 vs. 26 minutes, p < 0.0001). RV was effective in common bile duct clearance in 100% of cases, while ERCP was effective in only 89.5%. Minor morbidity affected one patient in each group.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report comparing combined laparoendoscopic RV versus ERCP for potential pancreatic damage and showing that RV reduces the number of patients with an iatrogenic pathologic increase of amylase when compared to ERCP, and also significantly reduces the duration of endoscopic procedure.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app