Long-duration EPBD vs EST for Removal of Biliary Stones

Inclusion Criteria: * Consecutive patients were invited to participate by the investigators or research staff if they were at least 18 years old, * patients who had known or suspected choledocholithiasis Exclusion Criteria: * active acute pancreatitis * septic shock, * coagulopathy (international normalized ratio \>1.2, partial thromboplastic time greater than twice that of control), * platelet count \<50,000 x 103/uL, * anticoagulation therapy within 48 hours of the procedure, * stone diameter \> 8 mm, * bile duct diameter \>15 mm, prior sphincterotomy, * need for precut sphincterotomy for biliary access, * biliary stricture, * Billroth II or Roux-en-Y anatomy, * periampullary malignancies, * primary sclerosing cholangitis, pregnancy, * and inability to give informed consent