Ma. Alkarawi et al., ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF POSTCHOLECYSTECTOMY COMPLICATIONS - A SAUDI HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE, Saudi medical journal, 17(4), 1996, pp. 475-481
Objectives: To review the endoscopic management of postcholecystectomy
complication between 1981 - 1993 at the Gastroenterology Department,
Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh. Design: A retrospective study of post-c
holecystectomy patients who were referred for endoscopic retrograde ch
olangtopancreatography (ERCP) either because of persistent new symptom
s or obvious complications. Results: Two hundred and fifty-eight ERCP
were performed in 223 patients, following open or laparoscopy (lap) ch
olecystectomy (210/240) open (8.7%) 13/383 lap (3.4%), Patients presen
ted with abdominal pain, cholangitis, jaundiced and/or pancreatitis. E
RCP was abnormal in 57.4% of these patients. Retained gall stones (GS)
were diagnosed and managed endoscopically in 73 patients (32.7%). Bil
iary tract structure was shown in 29 patients (13%) and biliary leak i
n 10 patients. In these patients various forms of endoscopic treatment
were pet-formed. Conclusion: ERCP is a useful diagnostic and therapeu
tic-tool for post-cholecystectomy complications and successful endosco
pic management prevents subsequent operations.