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Robotic Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy for Chronic Pancreatitis
Published on: December 14, 2019
Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not necessary in mild gallstone pancreatitis
1Department of Surgery, The Toronto Hospital and University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street #8-331, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.
Background:
The role of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in gallstone pancreatitis is unclear. Therefore, we designed a study to establish whether ERCP is indicated in these cases.
Method:
We studied 55 patients who had been admitted with gallstone pancreatitis. All of them had mild pancreatitis (Ranson's criteria <3). ERCP was carried out within 4 days of admission, once the liver function tests and serum amylase had returned to normal levels.
Results:
ERCP did not demonstrate common bile duct stones in any of the patients. All patients then underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the same admission.
Conclusion:
Preoperative ERCP is not indicated for patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis.
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