Endoscopic sphincterotomy has become a well-accepted procedure in choledocholithiasis and papillary stenosis. Long-term follow-up data covering an observation period of 7 years disclose that about 90 % of the patients are either completely relieved of symptoms, or show marked improvement. Re-stenosis or recurrent concrements seem rare events; in primary papillary stenosis, however, long-term results are less favorable.