Ah. Ballester et al., BILIARY DRAINAGE IN THE DIAGNOSTIC OF THE IDIOPATHIC ACUTE-PANCREATITIS, Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas, 86(5), 1994, pp. 813-817
The identification of a casual agent in the so-called ''idiopatic acut
e pancreatitis'' is of great interest in relationship with the prognos
is and the election of correct therapy. We have performed a duodenal d
rainage for the microscopic study of the bile, looking for cholesterol
crystals and bilirrubinate's in a group of 19 patients with idiopatic
acute pancreatitis. The results have been compared with a control gro
up composed by 45 assymptomatic individuals. In the patients group dra
inage results we re abnormal in 11 cases (57,9%) vs. 11.2% in the cont
rol group (difference statistically significant). In 4 of the 11 cases
, a cholecystectomy was performed showing biliary pathology. Patients
at follow-up were assymptomatic. Duodenal drainage is an easy method w
ithout risks that must be used always in idiopatic acute pancreatitis.
It allows the diagnosis of microlithiasis and may help in the therape
utic indication of cholecystectomy.