Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2005. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2005; 11(33): 5209-5212
Published online Sep 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i33.5209
Complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in the post-MRCP era: A tertiary center experience
Tze-Zen Ong, Jen-Lock Khor, Dede-Sutedja Selamat, Khay-Guan Yeoh, Khek-Yu Ho
Tze-Zen Ong, Jen-Lock Khor, Dede-Sutedja Selamat, Khay-Guan Yeoh, Khek-Yu Ho, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, Singapore
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Khek-Yu Ho, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, 5, Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119074 Singapore. mdchoky@nus.edu.sg
Telephone: +65-67724379 Fax: +65-67794112
Received: November 3, 2004
Revised: December 15, 2004
Accepted: December 20, 2004
Published online: September 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate our experience in endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in terms of fulfilling the ASGE guidelines in indications, positive findings, and complications in the post-magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) era.

METHODS: Between November 2001 and February 2003, consecutive ERCP cases were prospectively evaluated with regard to the indications, findings, cannulation techniques, devices used during the procedure, sedation given, duration of procedure, and complications. These data were entered in a database for subsequent processing and analysis.

RESULTS: Of 336 cases, 21.4% were diagnostic and 78.6% therapeutic ERCP. The indications for ERCP fulfilled the ASGE guidelines in 323 cases (96.1%). Suspected bile duct stone was the most frequent indication (26.8%), and this was followed by cholangitis (24.4%), dilated common bile duct (14.9%), and cholestatic jaundice (13.4%). Cannulation success rate was 94%. Biliary sphincterotomy was performed in 175 (52.1%) patients. Repeated ERCP was performed on 31.5% of the patients. Overall, the complication rate was 9.8% with 0.3% being procedure-related mortality. The complications were pancreatitis (5.4%), bleeding (0.8%), cholangitis (2.4%) and others (1.5%). No significant difference was observed between the complication rate and the type of ERCP performed.

CONCLUSION: Our study showed that post-ERCP complication rate was comparable with the other large prospective studies and there was no difference in the complication between the diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP.

Keywords: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancrea-togram; Complication; Pancreatitis