An experimental study on endoscopic papillotomy in monkeys.

Endoscopic papillotomy would appear to have distinct advantages in non-operative treatment of common bile duct stones. To investigate the effects of this procedure on the papilla and adjacent organs, diathermy papillotomy was performed at laparotomy in three monkeys. White-cell count and levels of liver function parameters temporarily increased during the follow-up period of twelve months, suggesting that diathermy papillotomy might have brought about some pathological changes in the hepatobiliary system of monkeys, whereas no definite evidence of cholestasis or pancreatitis were noticed, and an excellent condition of papillotomy orifice and adjacent ogans was revealed at autopsy about 1 year after diathermy papillotomy.