Acute pancreatitis – a complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is the most frequent complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). It can develop as severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Aim: To evaluate the severity of AP in patients who have undergone ERCP.

Material and methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients who had ERCP from April 2006 to April 2009 were evaluated – 61% of patients were women, 39% were men. The indications to perform ERCP were choledocholithiasis in 101 (44%), stricture of the main bile duct in 100 (44%), biliopancreatic neoplasm in 23 (10%) and other in 4 (2%). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was conducted in general anesthesia. Depending on the pathology the stones were removed or a prosthesis was inserted.

Results: Acute pancreatitis had developed in 6 patients (2.6%) in the group of 228 patients who had ERCP. Acute pancreatitis was recognized mostly during 6-12 h after ERCP based on clinical symptoms and elevation of serum amylase activity. In 3 cases we recognized SAP. Two patients (33%) in this group died.

Conclusions: Acute pancreatitis is a rare complication after ERCP but sometimes it can develop as SAP.