Correlation of basal sphincter pressures measured from the bile duct and the pancreatic duct in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

If basal sphincter of Oddi pressures measured from the pancreatic duct and the bile duct are essentially equal, then measurement of basal pressures from only one duct would be adequate in evaluating sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. We report a series of 88 patients whom we evaluated with sphincter of Oddi manometry. Cannulation of both the biliary sphincter segment and pancreatic sphincter segment was achieved in these patients. Basal sphincter pressures were measured (normal, less than 40 mm Hg). In 45 of the 88 patients (51%), normal sphincter of Oddi basal pressures were seen in both ducts. Elevated basal sphincter of Oddi pressures were seen in both ducts in 28 of 88 patients (32%). In 15 of 88 cases (17%) there was an elevation of only one sphincter segment. Elevation in only the biliary sphincter segment occurred in 7 of 88 patients (8%). Elevation in the pancreatic sphincter segment alone occurred in 8 of 88 patients (9%). We conclude that sphincter of Oddi manometry of both the pancreatic and bile ducts is needed if complete manometric information is desired.