H S Himal1. 1. Department of Surgery, The Toronto Hospital and University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street #8-331, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The role of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in gallstone pancreatitis is unclear. Therefore, we designed a study to establish whether ERCP is indicated in these cases. METHOD: We studied 55 patients who had been admitted with gallstone pancreatitis. All of them had mild pancreatitis (Ranson's criteria <3). ERCP was carried out within 4 days of admission, once the liver function tests and serum amylase had returned to normal levels. RESULTS: ERCP did not demonstrate common bile duct stones in any of the patients. All patients then underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the same admission. CONCLUSION: Preoperative ERCP is not indicated for patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND: The role of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in gallstone pancreatitis is unclear. Therefore, we designed a study to establish whether ERCP is indicated in these cases. METHOD: We studied 55 patients who had been admitted with gallstone pancreatitis. All of them had mild pancreatitis (Ranson's criteria <3). ERCP was carried out within 4 days of admission, once the liver function tests and serum amylase had returned to normal levels. RESULTS: ERCP did not demonstrate common bile duct stones in any of the patients. All patients then underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the same admission. CONCLUSION: Preoperative ERCP is not indicated for patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis.