[Quality and competence in endoscopic cholangiography. Towards certainty]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopic procedures
• Quality improvement in healthcare

Context:

• The American Society of Gastroenterology (ASGE) and American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) established quality indicators for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
• These indicators encompass pre-procedure, intra-procedure, and post-procedure aspects of ERCP.
• Assessing compliance with these indicators is crucial for maintaining high standards in ERCP performance.

Purpose:

• To retrospectively evaluate compliance with ASGE-proposed quality indicators for ERCP.
• To assess the quality of ERCP procedures performed between October 2010 and October 2012.
• To identify areas for improvement in ERCP quality, such as appropriate procedure indication.

Summary:

• A retrospective study analyzed 734 ERCP procedures against established quality indicators.
• High success rates were observed for cannulation (96.2%), choledocholithiasis extraction (95.4%), and stent placement (100%).
• The overall complication rate was 5.6%, with a mortality rate of 0.27%.

Impact:

• The study demonstrates adherence to internationally validated ERCP quality indicators, positioning the unit as high-quality.
• Achieving these indicators suggests the unit functions as an expert training center for ERCP.
• Areas like appropriate indication require further improvement, potentially linked to diagnostic imaging accessibility.