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The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of precut sphincterotomy in relation to the experience of a single endoscopist, and to establish the number of procedures required before achieving an effective and safe precut sphincterotomy.A total of 200 consecutive patients underwent precut sphincterotomy carried out by a single endoscopist (T.A.) between January 2003 and December 2005. All of the procedures were divided into four chronological groups of 50 (Group I, II, III, and IV). Medical records and patient data were retrospectively reviewed and included procedure indications, outcomes, and complications. All patients were admitted for observation after the procedure in case of complications.A total of 200 patients (23.3%) (mean age 58.5 years; 101 men) underwent precut sphincterotomy (161 with needle-knife technique, 32 with septotomy technique, and seven with Erlangen technique). There was no mortality. The success rates of prompt bile duct cannulation after precut sphincterotomy were 88%, 86%, 94%, and 82%, respectively ( P0.05). Immediate bleeding requiring a submucosal adrenaline injection was observed in combined group I - II (28%) and combined group III - IV (7%) ( P0.05). One patient (2%) from each of group I, III, and IV required further endoscopic treatment for rebleeding. Duodenal perforation (2%) was detected and conservatively treated in one patient from group II. Mild pancreatitis was found in one patient (2%) in group III.The success rates of bile duct cannulation by precut sphincterotomy were not associated with the experience of the endoscopist. The postprocedural complications significantly decreased after the first 100 procedures. An experience of at least 100 procedures is suggested to achieve a safe precut sphincterotomy.

history of epigastric pain and fever. Physical examination revealed marked epigastric tenderness. Laboratory values were: white blood cell count 22000/μL; serum amylase 1461 U/L; lipase 1531 U/L. Computer tomography (CT) scan showed pancreatic swelling with a long, linear filling defect in the pancreatic duct, which was dilated, andmild dilatation of the common bile duct (●" Fig. 1). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed. The endoscopic view showed a round worm protruding from the ampulla of Vater. A snare was placed around the worm and pulled gently until the worm was extracted from the duodenum (●" Fig. 2). However, the pancreatogram showed another tubular-shaped filling defect occupying the whole of the dilated pancreatic duct (●" Fig. 3). Pancreatic sphincterotomy was performed and another round worm was successfully removedwith a Dormia basket catheter over a guide wire. The patient was treated with mebendazole and his symptoms completely resolved. Infestation with Ascaris lumbricoides begins with the ingestion of food contaminated with fertilized eggs. The eggs hatch in the duodenum, releasing the parasites in the larval stage [1]. Rarely, the larvae can migrate into the pancreatic duct (1.4%) [2], causing acute pancreatitis. ERCP is a highly effective method of demonstrating the worm in the biliary tract and pancreatic duct, while providing a therapeutic option for removing the worms [2,3]. Extraction of the worm is easiest if it is protruding out of the papilla, when a grasping forceps can be applied. Worms that are entirely within the bile duct may be stimulated to migrate out of the papilla by contrast injection, or they can be extracted using basket or balloon catheters. The worm should be extracted completely since remnants can lead to stone formation [4]. Anthelmintic treatment with mebendazole or albendazole is effective in eradicating Ascaris lumbricoides in 90% of cases [5].