['Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with biliary self-expanding metal stent placement is the preferred method of providing biliary drainage for pancreaticobiliary malignancies. Some endoscopists routinely perform biliary sphincterotomy to facilitate biliary stent placement and potentially minimize pancreatitis with transpapillary self-expanding metal stent placement.', 'Our hypothesis was that biliary sphincterotomy has no effect on the success rate of transpapillary self-expanding metal stent placement and increases procedure-related complications.', 'In a retrospective analysis, outcomes of two groups were compared: (1) self-expanding metal stent placement without biliary sphincterotomy, (2) self-expanding metal stent placement with biliary sphincterotomy during the same procedure. Complications and stent patency rates were evaluated.', 'There were 104 subjects included in the study. Post-sphincterotomy bleeding (p = 0.001) was associated with biliary sphincterotomy performed immediately prior to self-expanding metal stent placement. Importantly, self-expanding metal stent placement without biliary sphincterotomy was always technically successful and self-expanding metal stent placement without biliary sphincterotomy was not associated with pancreatitis.'] Is endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy required for transpapillary SEMS placement for biliary obstruction?