No controlled studies document either clinical or biochemical efficacy following balloon dilation of the sphincter of Oddi. Because of this and the unacceptable rates of pancreatitis and cholangitis associated with sphincter dilation when compared with the other available modalities of sphincterotomy, stent placement and surgery, this technology currently has little place when dealing with a spastic or stenotic sphincter mechanism.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.