Prevention of postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: the endoscopic technique

Risk of Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis After Double-Guidewire Biliary Cannulation in an Average-Risk Population

OBJECTIVES

Double-guidewire cannulation (DGC) for selective biliary access has been associated with increased risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) in patients who have had pancreatic duct (PD) contrast injection. The objective of this study was to determine whether DGC increases PEP risk in standard risk individuals when controlling for procedural aspects such as PD contrast injection.

METHODS

Consecutive adults with native papillae who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography from 2009 to 2014 were retrospectively identified, and clinical data were collected.

RESULTS

There were 879 subjects who met inclusion criteria. Increased incidence of PEP was observed after DGC (18% with DGC vs 4% without DGC, P < 0.005). Additional factors associated with increased PEP risk included the following: PD contrast injection, PD wire cannulations, and biliary stent placement. The association between DGC and increased PEP risk remained significant in a multivariate model controlling for age, sex, PD contrast injection, biliary sphincterotomy, biliary stent placement, and rectal indomethacin administration (odds ratio = 2.87, 95% confidence interval = 1.23-6.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Double-guidewire cannulation is associated with increased risk of PEP when controlling for confounding variables. Prospective studies should be undertaken to assess whether prophylactic interventions reduce risk of PEP after DGC in an average-risk population.

Optimal Use of Wire-Assisted Techniques and Precut Sphincterotomy

Various endoscopic techniques have been developed to overcome the difficulties in biliary or pancreatic access during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, according to the preference of the endoscopist or the aim of the procedures. In terms of endoscopic methods, guidewire-assisted cannulation is a commonly used and well-known initial cannulation technique, or an alternative in cases of difficult cannulation. In addition, precut sphincterotomy encompasses a range of available rescue techniques, including conventional precut, precut fistulotomy, transpancreatic septotomy, and precut after insertion of pancreatic stent or pancreatic duct guidewire-guided septal precut. We present a literature review of guidewire-assisted cannulation as a primary endoscopic method and the precut technique for the facilitation of selective biliary access.