The underestimated role of opiates in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction after cholecystectomy.

AIMS: Pain recurrence after cholecystectomy is often attributed to sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, whose diagnostic criteria and treatments remain uncertain. We performed a retrospective study to assess the possible precipitating role of opiate ingestion in this setting.
METHODS: The retrospective study of the files of 147 consecutive patients investigated for post-cholecystectomy syndrome by endoscopic ultrasonography and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiography yielded 37 cases of suspected biliary-type sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.
RESULTS: Thirteen patients (30%) with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction had taken opiate-containing drugs 15 minutes to two hours (median 1 hr) before the onset of pain ("Opiate group"). When compared with the 23 patients having not taken opiates ("Non Opiate Group"), they were significantly younger (47 vs. 60 yrs), had a narrower common bile duct (5.0 vs. 7.7 mm), but had similar biochemical abnormalities and belonged to the same Milwaukee's classes, mainly class II. None of the patients in the "Opiate group" were submitted to retrograde cholangiography or endoscopic sphincterotomy vs. 52% and 39%, respectively of the patients of the "Non-Opiate Group". After a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, there were three recurrences of biliary-type pain (1 choledochal stone, and 2 suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction) in the "Opiate Group", and 2 (1 choledochal stone, 1 after codeine intake) in the "Non-Opiate Group".
CONCLUSIONS: Opiate intake is a frequent cause of suspicion of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction after cholecystectomy, especially in young patients with a narrow common bile duct. A careful history taking is essential to avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful procedures.