Introduction: The diagnostic approach in patients suspicious for gallstone disease is represented by two main methods--ERCP and MRCP. The magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography is safe and precise method of imaging diagnostics, while the endoscopy combines both good diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities.
Materials and methods: 223 patients were enrolled, 68 of theme were with diagnosed cholestasis and endoscopic sphincterotomy, which was therapeutic in 53 cases. In all patients this condition has been diagnosed using MRCP--in 51 cases choledocholithiasis was diagnosed; 11 were with tumor obstruction; in 6 cases no mechanical cause was found. ERCP was performed on 62 patients with following therapeutical sphincterotomy.
Results: All 223 with performed cholecystectomy were with rate of conversion of 3% and hospital stay--3 days. There were no cases of pancreatitis after the sphincterotomy or hemorrhages requiring hemotransfusion.
Conclusion: Algorithm including MRCP with performing endoscopic sphincterotomy is safe and effective in the diagnostic and treatment of choledocholithiasis. MRCP can be applied in addition to ERCP and IOC.