Abstract:

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to review the indications, observations, technical success, and results of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in our center. Materials and Methods: The results of 524 patients who underwent consecutive ERCP between February 2017 and February 2020 in the ERCP unit of Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, were evaluated retrospectively. Moreover, formal written consent was obtained from all patients prior to each procedure. Results: A total of 620 ERCP procedures were performed in 524 patients. Further, 285 of the patients (54.3%) were female and 239 (45.6%) male, with an average age of 64.5 (18–103). In 97.8% of the patients, ERCP was conducted for clinical purposes. Choledocholithiasis (68.5%) and dilatation and cholestasis findings in the biliary tract (20.8%) were the most common ERCP indications. Selective common bile duct cannulation was performed with sphincterotome in 506 patients (96.6%), and precut sphincterotomy with needle knife sphincterotomy was performed in 32 (7.8%) of them. The most common findings were choledocholithiasis (61.8%), common bile duct dilatation, or benign (12.2%) and malignant (8.0%) biliary stenosis. On the other hand, the most common therapeutic procedures were endoscopic sphincterotomy in 450 patients (85.8%), stone extraction with balloon or basket in 263 (50.2%), and stent placement in 158 (30.2%). The overall complication rate was 4.9%, and the most frequent was pancreatitis with a rate of 2.3%. In this series, two patients (0.4%) died. Conclusion: Despite the possibility of severe complications, ERCP is an efficient and safe procedure for the treatment of pancreaticobiliary diseases when done with appropriate indications. Early diagnosis and effective treatment of potential complications are very important to reduce ERCP-related morbidity and mortality.

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