ERCP: ampulotomy or suprapapillary fistulotomy with needle knife to access bile ductin difficult cannulation

INTRODUCTION: Biliary conducts deep cannulation is a requirement for therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP). The pre-cut papillotomy is a technique for difficult cannulation cases. Aims: Report cases of hard cannulation and suprapapilar fistulotomy as a method for selective common bile duct cannulation. Report efficacy, demographic and endoscopic findings and complications of this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive and prospective study of cases. Sample of 93 patients who had a difficult cannulation ERCP, in which suprapapilar fistulotomy pre-cut type was done, in a private digestive endoscopic center between 2000 and 2010 in Lima, Peru. RESULTS: 1205 (100%) ERCP were made 1152 (96%) papillosphincterotomies. Fistulotomy was done in 93 cases (8%) of these papillosphincterotomies. The most prevalent age group was 61 to 70 years old, the female-male proportion was 2.4:1. The efficacy was 96%. The most prevalent endoscopy findings were odditis, gallstone impactation and ampulloma presence, final diagnosis were lithiasic disease (34%), Odditis with or without common bile duct lithiasis (29%). Therapeutic ERCP was done in 75% of the cases, 8.5% showed complications (pancreatitis and bleeding). No perforation or cholangitis were registered. CONCLUSIONS: In this case series, fistulotomy in difficult cannulation procedures had good efficacy. Is most prevalent in cases with odditis, gallstone impactation and ampulloma. Complications of the procedure are low. RECOMMENDATIONS: The fistulotomy type of pre-cut is leaded for patients who require therapeutic ERCP. The decision for doing the procedure must be precocious and informed consent is primordial.