Feasibility of and interest in combined endoscopic ultrasonography and biliary drainage in unexplained acute biliopancreatic disorders.

Combined endoscopic ultrasonography and duodenal bile drainage for microscopic bile examination was prospectively evaluated in patients with unexplained acute biliopancreatic disorders defined as follows: isolated biliary-type pain (group 1), biliary-type pain and elevated transaminases (group 2), or acute pancreatitis (group 3). All patients had prior negative transabdominal ultrasonography. Endoscopic ultrasonography and bile drainage were combined under anesthesia during the same procedure.