Comparable Long-term Outcomes of 1-minute vs 5-minute Endoscopic Papillary Balloon Dilation for Bile Duct Stones

Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is an alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) for choledocholithiasis. Unlike EST, EPBD preserves biliary sphincter function, reducing long-term risk of recurrent choledocholithiasis by 50%. Guidelines recommend that duration of EPBD exceeds 2 minutes, to adequately loosen the sphincter and reduce risks of failed stone extraction and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis. However, it is unclear whether this long duration of EPBD impairs sphincter function and negates the long-term benefit of EPBD.

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