Endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is now a vital modality with primarily therapeutic and occasionally solely diagnostic utility for numerous biliary/pancreatic disorders. It has a significantly steeper learning curve than that for other standard gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy, due to greater technical difficulty and higher risk of complications. Yet, GI fellows have limited exposure to ERCP during standard-three-year-GI-fellowships because ERCP is much less frequently performed than esophagogastroduodenoscopy/colonoscopy. This led to adding an optional year of training in therapeutic endoscopy. Yet many graduates from standard three-year-fellowships without advanced training intensely pursue independent/unsupervised ERCP privileges despite inadequate numbers of performed ERCPs and unacceptably low rates of successful selective cannulation of desired (biliary or pancreatic) duct. Hospital credentialing committees have traditionally performed ERCP credentialing, but this practice has led to widespread flouting of recommended guidelines (e.g., planned privileging of applicant with 20% successful cannulation rate, or after performing only 7 ERCPs); and intense politicking of committee members by applicants, their practice groups, and potential competitors. Consequently, some gastroenterologists upon completing standard fellowships train and learn ERCP "on the job" during independent/unsupervised practice, which can result in bad outcomes: high rates of failed bile duct cannulation. This severe clinical problem is indicated by publication of ≥ 12 ERCP competency studies/guidelines during last 5 years. However, lack of mandatory, quantitative, ERCP credentialing criteria has permitted neglect of recommended guidelines. This work comprehensively reviews literature on ERCP credentialing; reviews rationales for proposed guidelines; reports problems with current system; and proposes novel criteria for competency. This work advocates for mandatory, national, written, minimum, quantitative, standards, including cognitive skills (possibly assessed by a nationwide examination), and technical skills, assessed by number performed (≥ 200-250 ERCPs), types of ERCPs, success rate (approximately ≥ 90% cannulation of desired duct), and letters of recommendation by program director/ERCP mentor. Mandatory criteria should ideally not be monitored by a hospital committee subjected to intense politicking by applicants, their employers, and sometimes even competitors, but an independent national entity, like the National Board of Medical Examiners/American Board of Internal Medicine.

Acute pancreatitis following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography presents a unique opportunity for prophylaxis and early modification of the disease process because the initial triggering event is temporally well defined and takes place in the hospital. We report a prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind controlled trial to determine if rectal diclofenac reduces the incidence of pancreatitis following cholangiopancreatography.

Entry to the trial was restricted to patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography or had manometrically verified sphincter of Oddi hypertension. Immediately after endoscopy, patients were given a suppository containing either 100 mg diclofenac or placebo. Estimation of serum amylase levels and clinical evaluation were performed in all patients.

A total of 220 patients entered the trial, and 110 received rectal diclofenac. Twenty-four patients developed pancreatitis (11%), of whom 7 received rectal diclofenac and 17 received placebo (P < 0.05).

This trial shows that rectal diclofenac given immediately after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography can reduce the incidence of acute pancreatitis.

To determine whether preoperative biliary instrumentation and preoperative biliary drainage are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is accompanied by a considerable rate of postoperative complications and potential death. Controversy exists regarding the impact of preoperative biliary instrumentation and preoperative biliary drainage on morbidity and mortality rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Two hundred forty consecutive cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy performed between January 1994 and January 1997 were analyzed. Multiple preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were examined. Pearson chi square analysis or Fisher's exact test, when appropriate, was used for univariate comparison of all variables. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.

One hundred seventy-five patients (73%) underwent preoperative biliary instrumentation (endoscopic, percutaneous, or surgical instrumentation). One hundred twenty-six patients (53%) underwent preoperative biliary drainage (endoscopic stents, percutaneous drains/stents, or surgical drainage). The overall postoperative morbidity rate after pancreaticoduodenectomy was 48% (114/240). Infectious complications occurred in 34% (81/240) of patients. Intraabdominal abscess occurred in 14% (33/240) of patients. The postoperative mortality rate was 5% (12/240). Preoperative biliary drainage was determined to be the only statistically significant variable associated with complications (p = 0.025), infectious complications (p = 0.014), intraabdominal abscess (p = 0.022), and postoperative death (p = 0.037). Preoperative biliary instrumentation alone was not associated with complications, infectious complications, intraabdominal abscess, or postoperative death.

Preoperative biliary drainage, but not preoperative biliary instrumentation alone, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. This suggests that preoperative biliary drainage should be avoided whenever possible in patients with potentially resectable pancreatic and peripancreatic lesions. Such a change in current preoperative management may improve patient outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

The aim of this prospective controlled study was to determine whether prophylactic corticosteroids decrease the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

A double-blind comparison of hydrocortisone (100 mg by i.v. infusion immediately before endoscopy) with placebo (sodium chloride administered in the same fashion). A total of 535 patients (286 women and 249 men, with an average age of 58.6 yr) who were scheduled to undergo diagnostic or operative ERCP underwent randomization. Six patients were excluded from the final evaluation for various reasons. The remaining 529 patients, 263 in the hydrocortisone group and 266 in the placebo group, were analyzed. Patients were divided into subgroups with regard to high risk factors for acute pancreatitis after ERCP.

The overall incidence of acute pancreatitis was 5.3% (28 of 529 patients). Procedure-induced pancreatitis occurred in 15 of 263 (5.7%) patients treated with hydrocortisone and in 13 of 266 (4.9%) patients treated with placebo (p = NS). The results of analysis of risk factors for pancreatitis did not evidence any significant difference between the hydrocortisone group and the placebo group.

Hydrocortisone does not prevent acute pancreatitis after diagnostic or therapeutic ERCP.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) has replaced direct cholangiography and pancreatography in many instances. Its complete noninvasiveness and flexibility are less onerous for patients. For the use of screening as well as scrutiny, MRCP has played an important role in diagnosing various pathologies in this field. The usefulness of MRCP is not limited to anatomical evaluations; it can also yield physiologic and functional information. From a cost-performance basis, MRCP is undoubtedly superior to direct methods. Coupled with a cutting-edge MR system, MRCP has the potential to limit the use of invasive transpapillary and percutaneous methods merely to interventional purposes. In the near future, the emergence of interventional MR scanners will make MRCP even more competitive, and the replacement will be accelerated.

Cholangitis and septicaemia are serious complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). They occur mainly following therapeutic ERCP in the setting of an obstructed biliary system. The optimum prophylactic antibiotic regimen in such patients is not yet defined but usually depends on intravenous agents.

To compare the efficacy of oral ciprofloxacin with intravenous cephazolin.

One hundred and fifty patients at high risk from septic complications were randomized prospectively to either oral ciprofloxacin (750 mg b.d.) or intravenous cephazolin (1 g b.d.), commenced at least 90 min prior to the ERCP and continued for 3 days. Bacteriological cultures were taken from bile during the procedure and from blood both immediately and at 24 h post-procedure.

There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in the pre-ERCP clinical or radiological findings or in the types of procedure performed. One patient did not undergo an ERCP and was excluded from the final analysis. Of the 77 patients in the ciprofloxacin group there were no positive blood cultures and one positive culture from a nasobiliary drain. Two out of the 72 cephazolin patients had positive blood cultures immediately post-ERCP; one of these two patients and one other cephazolin patient had positive bile cultures. There were no cases of cholangitis or septicaemia in the ciprofloxacin group and three cases in the cephazolin group. One patient from each treatment group died within the 7-day study. Adverse drug reactions were minimal and none of the different clinical outcomes in the two groups reached statistical significance.

Oral ciprofloxacin is a cost-effective prophylactic agent for high-risk ERCP.

Because of the concern for infection risk, use of sterile water has been recommended in the water bottle for endoscopic equipment, although studies evaluating prevalence of contamination of the water bottle with clinical outcomes have not been performed.

Over a 12-week period in three endoscopy rooms at a university teaching hospital, the water bottles were filled on a weekly schedule with either sterile (one room) or tap water. The water bottles were sterilized on a weekly basis with an automated endoscope washer. At the end of each week, an aliquot of the remaining water was transferred to a sterile container, and quantitative cultures for aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria were performed by use of a 0.01 ml calibrated loop according to standard protocols. Cultures were performed in a blinded fashion without knowledge of the water source. Follow-up was performed on all patients within 2 weeks of the procedure to determine any potential infectious complications.

During the study period, 437 procedures were performed (203 endoscopy, 68 colonoscopy, 38 sigmoidoscopy, 128 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). Of a total of 36 cultures (12 sterile), the results of nine (25%) were positive, including three bottles where sterile water was used. Bacterial isolates included five Flavobacterium sp., four Acinetobacter sp., two Pseudomonas sp., and one Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Colony counts ranged from 900 to more than 10,000 per ml. On follow-up no patient had development of a clinical infection from any of these organisms.

Bacterial growth in the water bottle was infrequent, consisted predominantly of nonpathogenic organisms, and was not associated with clinical complications. Our pilot study suggests that the use of tap water as compared with sterile water may be practical as well as provide cost savings.

Diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a remarkably safe procedure in experienced hands. A series of complications directly related to both the manipulation and cannulation of the ampulla of Vater, as well as consequent to medication and cardiorespiratory events, has been described. Herein we report a case of severe barotrauma complication of diagnostic endoscopic cholangiography.

To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for periprocedural myocardial ischemia associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients with severe symptomatic coronary artery disease.

In this prospective observational study, myocardial ischemia (ST segment change > 100 microV in any 2 leads or > 200 microV in any 1 lead, lasting > 60 seconds) was assessed using a continuous 12-lead digital electrocardiographic monitor before, during, and after gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Between June 1992 and May 1993, 1,084 esophagogastroduodenoscopies and 588 colonoscopies were performed during 1,438 consecutive endoscopies on patients admitted to a university hospital. Seventy (18%) of 252 patients with prior angiography had significant coronary artery disease. Fifty-two (74%) were successfully enrolled, and satisfactory electrocardiographic recordings were obtained from 49 (median age 65 years, interquartile range 58 to 74). Thirty-six were men, 12 had myocardial infarctions within the 6 weeks (median 12.5 days, interquartile range 8 to 18), and 25 had unstable angina. The coronary artery disease involved 1 vessel in 14 subjects, 2 vessels in 21, and 3 vessels in 14. Nineteen episodes of ischemia (4 pre-, 6 intra-, 9 postprocedure) were detected in 8 patients (16%; 95% confidence interval, 6% to 26%) during the recording period (median duration 322 min, interquartile range 227 to 429). One patient became symptomatic with a myocardial infarction. Multivariable logistic regression showed that women experienced more periprocedural ischemia compared to men (31% versus 11%; P = 0.058).

Myocardial ischemia occurs during the periprocedural period in 16% of hospitalized patients with severe coronary artery disease undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopy is safe in hemodynamically stable patients with recent myocardial infarction and/or unstable angina. Women appear to be at greater risk for periprocedural ischemia associated with endoscopy.

Emphysematous cholecystitis is a rare variant of acute cholecystitis, most frequently seen in elderly, debilitated, or diabetic patients. This report documents the development of fulminant sepsis due to acalculous cholecystitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) in an otherwise healthy patient with suspected malignant obstructive jaundice. Three other cases of acute cholecystitis have been reported in the literature after ERCP. Although not proven to prevent infectious complications during ERCP, strong consideration should be given to prophylactic antibiotics in patients with suspected malignant obstruction and/or coexistent medical illness, eg, diabetes. When attempts at decompression of the obstructed biliary system by endoscopy fail, decompression by percutaneous or surgical routes should be considered in a timely fashion.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a safe diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Splenic injury after ERCP is extremely rare and only two cases have been reported in the English literature. A subcapsular splenic hematoma is reported after ERCP and the mechanism of injury and possible preventive measures are discussed.

Serum immunoreactive pancreatic phospholipase A2 (IP-PLA2) levels and the proportion of active pancreatic PLA2 in the serum IP-PLA2 were determined by radioimmunoassay with an antibody directed against active human PLA2. The subjects of this study included eight patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP), nine patients with acute pancreatitis, and six healthy controls. The serum IP-PLA2 levels were elevated after ERP and during acute pancreatitis. The amount of active pancreatic PLA2 in the serum was determined after its separation from pancreatic prophospholipase A2 using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The serum IP-PLA2 was separated into two peaks on reverse-phase HPLC. The one which eluted faster contained the PLA2 activity; the other peak did not. The latter IP-PLA2 peak consisted of pancreatic prophospholipase A2 as judged by HPLC analysis and PLA2 activity determination of the products after treatment with trypsin. The proportion of active pancreatic PLA2 in the serum IP-PLA2 of patients after ERP (13.9 +/- 0.5%) increased slightly compared with that in fasting, healthy controls (8.0 +/- 1.1%). For those with acute pancreatitis, the proportion of active pancreatic PLA2 within 48 hours of hospital admission increased more markedly (44.0 +/- 5.7%) than that after ERP. These findings demonstrate that the proportion of active pancreatic PLA2 in the serum IP-PLA2 markedly increases during the early stage of acute pancreatitis, and that an ERP-induced rise in the intraductal pressure leads to the leakage of pancreatic PLA2 into the circulation, but not to a marked activation of the leaked enzyme.

The occurrence of bacteremia in association with diagnostic or therapeutic ERCP was studied in 180 patients undergoing a total of 194 examinations. Nineteen (15%) of 126 diagnostic procedures and 18 (27%) of 68 therapeutic procedures were associated with bacteremia (p less than 0.1). Nine patients had polymicrobial bacteremia and a total of 16 species were detected. Different streptococci, mainly alpha-hemolytic, were the most common bacteria which were identified in 38% of the bacteremic patients. There were no significant differences with regard to the occurrence of fever, pancreatitis, or septic complications between the diagnostic and therapeutic groups of patients. Neither did the complication rate in patients with bacteremia differ from that in patients without bacteremia, whether the procedure was diagnostic or therapeutic. Complication rates did not differ between patients with and patients without pancreaticobiliary obstruction. However, the majority of patients with biliary stasis had drainage with relief of the obstruction at the time of the diagnostic ERCP. We conclude that general routine antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated in patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic ERCP. The question whether such prophylaxis should be given with certain diagnoses or treatments, or in patients with valvular heart disease, remains to be answered in controlled randomized studies.

Complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography specific to patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis have not yet been reported. We observed transient rises of serum bilirubin after diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in five of 15 patients and persistent rises in three of 15 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis examined consecutively by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography from 1985 to 1990. Deterioration of cholestasis was particularly associated with advanced disease. Seven of eight patients with deterioration after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography had septal fibrosis (stage III) or cirrhosis (stage IV) and a priori elevated serum bilirubin levels. In contrast, all patients with no deterioration of cholestasis following endoscopic retrograde cholangiography had early histological changes (stage I-II), and all but one patient had normal serum bilirubin levels. We conclude that the potentially harmful effects on biliary excretion must be taken into account when the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is being considered in patients with advanced primary sclerosing cholangitis.

One hundred sixty-five operative cholangiograms were attempted in 364 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (45%). Laparoscopic cholangiography was successful in 150 of 165 attempts (91%). Eighty-nine per cent of studies were normal (134/150) and 11% were abnormal (16/150). All 134 patients with normal cholangiograms remained asymptomatic (false-negative rate, 0%). False-positive studies occurred in 3 of 150 (2%) total cholangiograms and 3 of 12 (25%) abnormal cholangiograms consistent with choledocholithiasis. A total of 16 of 364 patients had proven common bile duct stones (4.4%). Eight of the sixteen stones were removed by preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography/sphincterotomy. Five of sixteen stones were found at cholangiography, four of which were unsuspected (4/150, 2.6%). Retained common duct stones were found in 3 of 214 patients not undergoing cholangiography (1.4%). No complications or deaths occurred that were due to cholangiography. One biliary injury occurred (1/364, 0.3%), in a patient with aberrant anatomy who did not undergo cholangiography. Laparoscopic cholangiography is a safe technique with a success rate greater than 90%. Routine cholangiography is presently recommended for prevention of biliary injury, detection of stones in the cystic and common ducts, and for training purposes, especially during the learning phase of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Ora; ciprofloxacin was studied as a prophylactic antimicrobial agent in high- and low-risk patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Ciprofloxacin appeared to be effective, good serum levels were attained, and the drug compared favourably on grounds of cost and convenience with a parenterally-administered cephalosporin.

This review summarizes the complications of fiberoptic peroral endoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and colonoscopy gleaned from reports of extensive endoscopic surveys. Unique individual experiences are also included. Means whereby complications can be prevented or remedied are noted.

The concentration in serum of cathodal trypsinogen has been studied in certain clinical and experimental situations. The concentration correlated with pancreatic amylase activity. Low levels were found in patients with malabsorption due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The concentration rose after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic examinations (ERCP). After ERCP, however, no trypsin was detected complexed with protease inhibitors, as is generally found in acute pancreatitis. The trypsinogen concentration in serum also rose in renal failure indicating a renal elimination route for the endogenous trypsinogen.

Endoscopic retograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is currently utilized to evaluate jaundice, both intra- and extrahepatic, and can differentiate between these by demonstrating specific anatomic lesions. ERCP is definitive in the evaluation of gallbladder disease when other modalities are indefinite. For the first time outside the operating room, the pancreatic duct can be opacified by ERCP. The newest application of ERCP, endoscopic papillotomy (EP), has revolutionized the treatment of common bile duct gallstones and stenosis of the duct, offering a safe and effective alternative to repeated surgery, especially in those patients at risk. Because of these diverse and effective applications, ERCP has become firmly established in our diagnostic armamentarium.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was successfully accomplished in 395 patients or 97 per cent of the patients in whom it was attempted. Of 157 patients with cholestatic type jaundice, satisfactory endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or cholangiopancreatography was accomplished in 145 (92 per cent), with only one complication. ERCP excluded extrahepatic biliary ductal obstruction and thus avoided unnecessary surgical exploration in forty-nine patients with cholestatic jaundice. ERCP established the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice in ninety-six patients and delineated the site of ductal obstruction and probable cause. ERCP revealed additional significant previously undiagnosed upper gastrointestinal pathologic changes in 25 per cent of jaundiced patients.