An appraisal of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for pancreaticobiliary disease in children: our institutional experience in 231 cases

Abstract

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was used most commonly for children with pancreatitis and gallstone disease. It was used frequently for infants with a low complication rate. The majority of patients required therapeutic intervention, suggesting an important role for ERCP in the management of pancreaticobiliary disease in infants and children.

ERCP in children

“…In older children, the success rate for cannulation of the desired duct is 97-98% comparable to that achieved in adults [1][2][3][4][5][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Our ERCP success in 220 children older than 1 year was 98%.…”

“…In neonates and young infants with neonatal cholestasis, there were no major complications in the series reported in the literature [1][2][3][4][5]. In our unpublished experience with 184 neonates and young infants, minor complications without clinical significance occurred in 24 patients (13%).…”

“…The overall incidence is approximately 5% [1][2][3][4][5]. In our unpublished experience with 220 ERCPs in children older than 1 year, ERCP was performed for diagnostic purposes in 108 cases with two (1.8%) complications.…”

“…ERCP has been found to be useful in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis in 14-69% of children with recurrent pancreatitis [1][2][3][4][5]55]. In children with chronic pancreatitis, debilitating pain and recurrent attacks may be caused by strictures of the main duct, pancreatic stones, or pseudocysts that impair the normal outflow of pancreatic secretions.…”

“…It is the most sensitive and specific technique in the evaluation and treatment of children with suspected disorders of the pancreas and the biliary tract. It is now routinely used for therapeutic purposes [1][2][3][4][5] since magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is nowadays the Key poInts…”