Study aim: A prospective study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of endoscopic sphincterotomy on the evolution of biliary and idiopathic acute pancreatitis.
Patients and methods: Among 320 patients with acute pancreatitis observed from 1986 to 1996, 118 were excluded from the study for etiological reasons and 137 were included for an endoscopic sphincterotomy within 72 hours from their admission. There were nine technical failures and 128 endoscopic sphincterotomies were performed. Sixty-five eligible patients were not included for logistic problems or patients' refusal; they can be considered as a "control group".
Results: The mortality rate of endoscopic sphincterotomy was 0 and the morbidity rate 2.1%. The mortality rate of acute pancreatitis was 3.1% in the sphincterotomy group vs 7.6% in the control group (P = 0.1) (NS) and the morbidity rate 25% versus 32% (P > or = 0.1) (NS).
Conclusion: These results suggest that endoscopic sphincterotomy could be beneficial in acute biliary or idiopathic pancreatitis but they are not statistically significant. Endoscopic sphincterotomy does not increase the severity of acute pancreatitis and can be considered particularly in cases of gallstone pancreatitis but it should be performed less than 48 hours after the onset of acute pancreatitis.