Risk Factors for Post-ERCP Pancreatitis after Needle Knife Sphincterotomy following Repeated Probing

Lee, Jun Kyu; Park, Joo Kyoung; Lee, Sang Hyub; Yoon, Won Jae; Lee, Kwang Hyuck; Ryu, Ji Kon; Kim, Yong Tae; Yoon, Yong Bum

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Needle knife sphincterotomy (NKS) following repeated probing due to difficult cannulation during ERCP increase the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis. However, the risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis are not well-known. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients who underwent NKS. We also evaluated the effect of gabexate on the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.
METHODS
Medical records from a total of 200 patients who underwent NKS following repeated probing during ERCP were reviewed retrospectively. The potential risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis were investigated. The effect of gabexate infusion after ERCP procedure on the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis was also evaluated.
RESULTS
A total of 13 (6.5%) patients out of 200 patients developed post-ERCP pancreatitis. Gender, age, the presence of pancreatitis at procedure, underlyng disease, direction of sphincterotomy, success or failure of cannulation, diameter of CBD, pancreatic duct status and the presence of acinar filling were proved unrelated with pancreatitis. Post-ERCP pancreatitis developed in 9 out of 38 (23.7%) when gabexate was given, while 4 out of 160 (2.5%) experienced pancreatitis without administration of gabexate.
CONCLUSIONS
We couldn't determine any risk factor for pancreatitis in patients who underwent NKS following repeated probing during ERCP. The gabexate infusion after ERCP procedure might be associated with the increased risk of pancreatitis.