[Can endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography be made a low-risk procedure?]

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is considered a high-risk procedure. Here we report 30-day morbidity and mortality rates following ERCP in a single referral centre with experienced endoscopists and restrictive selection of patients and indications for the procedure. The specific ERCP-related morbidity rate was 6.9%, and the specific ERCP-related mortality rate was only 0.3%. We conclude that ERCP is a safe procedure in the hands of experts and with the use of selection of patients and restrictive indications for the procedure.