Late result of sphincteroplasty in the treatment of primary cholangitis.

Sphincteroplasty is one of the surgical procedures used in the treatment of primary cholangitis. We performed this operation on 342 patients over a 13-year period, with an operative mortality of 4.7%. Postoperative examination of 271 patients (average follow-up, seven years four months) showed that a good result was achieved in 226 patients, a fair result in 23 patients, and a poor result in 22 patients. Analysis of the reoperations in 17 patients showed that stone reformation is the most common finding, followed by sphincteroplasty stricture, liver abscess, and empyema of the gallbladder. When performed with proper indications in the management of primary cholangitis, sphincteroplasty is a safe procedure, and the majority of patients can expect good results.