BACKGROUND: While Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) is widely employed in the management of adult pancreaticobiliary disease, its use in children has been limited. AIMS: To evaluate if ERCP diagnostic and therapeutic, is a safe and useful procedure in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary disorders in children. PATIENTS, METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed our experience with 72 ERCPs performed in 50 children (age 7-17 y, mean 14.5 y). The procedures were performed using standard adult side-viewing duodenoscopes. We used general anesthesia in 25 and conscious sedation in 47. In 38 patients we performed one, in 7/2, in 2/3, in 1/4 and in 2/5 ERCPs. The biliary or pancreatic ducts were successfully cannulated in 98%. Abnormal papilla accounted for the unsuccessful attempt. Abnormalities were found in biliary ducts in 54% and pancreatic duct in 24%, including choledocholithiasis (10), stenosis of the papilla (5), benign biliary stenoses (5), recurrent pancreatitis (4), pancreatic fistula (4), bile duct leak (3), cholelithiasis (3), chronic calcifying pancreatitis (2), pancreas divisum (2) and choledochal cyst (1). Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 19 patients, 15 on biliary segment and four on pancreatic segment. Stents were placed in the biliary duct in nine patients and in pancreatic duct in six patients. Complications included abdominal pain and elevated amylase in three patients (6%), which resolved rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP in children and adolescents is a safe and underutilized diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.
BACKGROUND: While Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) is widely employed in the management of adult pancreaticobiliary disease, its use in children has been limited. AIMS: To evaluate if ERCP diagnostic and therapeutic, is a safe and useful procedure in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary disorders in children. PATIENTS, METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed our experience with 72 ERCPs performed in 50 children (age 7-17 y, mean 14.5 y). The procedures were performed using standard adult side-viewing duodenoscopes. We used general anesthesia in 25 and conscious sedation in 47. In 38 patients we performed one, in 7/2, in 2/3, in 1/4 and in 2/5 ERCPs. The biliary or pancreatic ducts were successfully cannulated in 98%. Abnormal papilla accounted for the unsuccessful attempt. Abnormalities were found in biliary ducts in 54% and pancreatic duct in 24%, including choledocholithiasis (10), stenosis of the papilla (5), benign biliary stenoses (5), recurrent pancreatitis (4), pancreatic fistula (4), bile duct leak (3), cholelithiasis (3), chronic calcifying pancreatitis (2), pancreas divisum (2) and choledochal cyst (1). Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 19 patients, 15 on biliary segment and four on pancreatic segment. Stents were placed in the biliary duct in nine patients and in pancreatic duct in six patients. Complications included abdominal pain and elevated amylase in three patients (6%), which resolved rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP in children and adolescents is a safe and underutilized diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.