[Complications in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic cholangiopancreatography. Prospective study]

Studies of ERCP-related morbidity seldom include a sufficient patient follow-up. The complication rate is variable.

To characterize and to evaluate the frequency of complications in patients after Diagnostic and Therapeutic ERCP.

All patients undergoing ERCP during a 2-year period were included in this prospective study. Complications were assessed at time of ERCP and by personal or telephone contact at 1st, 7, 14 and 30-days after the procedure.

A total of 897 ERCPs were included in the analysis, of which 93.9% were therapeutic procedures. 640 were female with age of 49.68 (+/-18.59) and 257 male with age 58.80 (+/-16.67). The 30-day complications rate was 3.19%; the procedure-related mortality rate was 0.11%. Mild hemorrhage occurred in 1.48% and moderate hemorrhage in 0.11%. Post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in 0.79% and duodenal perforation in 0.45%. The 30-day procedure-no related mortality was 1.14%.

This prospective study confirms the complications rate of ERCP including therapeutic procedures is low in our experience.