Therapeutic Endoscopy of the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic System: A Vietnamese Experience

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was initially utilized at Binh Dan Hospital, Viet Nam, in August 1993. From August 1993 through March 1997, 318 ERCP procedures were performed on 271 patients. It was not possible to obtain cholangiography in 32 cases of the 318 procedures of ERCP, for a success rate of diagnostic ERCP approaching 89%. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases treated by ERCP included: 14 cases of Ascaris lumbricoides in the common bile duct (CBD). 69 cases of bile duct stones. 12 cases managed by nasobiliary catheter drainage. 3 cases treated by bile duct stent. Sphincterotomy was attempted on 108 cases. 5 cases of acute pancreatitis. 7 cases of purulent cholangitis, which resulted in 1 death. 2 cases of retroperitoneal duodenal perforation. 9 cases of postsphincterotomy bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ERCP is a useful therapeutic modality for bile duct stones and parasitic worms in the bile ducts.