Long-duration EPBD vs EST for Removal of Biliary Stones

Although EPBD has a lower risk of post-ERCP bleeding and long-term complications than EST and is easier to perform in altered/difficult anatomy, EPBD is reserved for patients with bleeding diathesis by current consensus because some studies reported a higher risk of pancreatitis. However, recent meta-analyses indicate that short EPBD duration increases the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis, and EPBD with adequate duration has a similar pancreatitis risk and a lower overall complication rate compared with EST for choledocholithiasis. Therefore, this study aim to compare long-duration EPBD vs EST in the treatment of extrahepatic biliary stones.