BACKGROUND AND AIM: The opportunities of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related procedure for hemodialysis (HD) patients have been increasing recently. However, the complication rate of ERCPs in HD patients has not been evaluated sufficiently. We aimed to clarify the feasibility of ERCPs in HD patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 76 consecutive ERCPs for HD patients between January 2005 and December 2012 in one university hospital and three tertiary-care referral centers. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) was performed in 21 HD patients. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for complications of all ERCPs and EST in HD patients. RESULTS: The incidence of pancreatitis, cholangitis, and cardiopulmonary complications for ERCPs in HD patients was 7.9% (6/76), 1.3% (1/76), and 1.3% (1/76), respectively. The mortality rate was 2.6% (2/76), and it occurred after acute pancreatitis in one patient and pneumonia in the other patient. The incidence of hemorrhage and pancreatitis with EST was 19% (4/21) and 4.8% (1/21), respectively. The duration of HD was significantly longer in the patients with hemorrhage after EST than without (19.5 vs 6 years; P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is feasible in HD patients. However, EST is not advisable because of the high hemorrhage rate, particularly for patients with a long duration of HD.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The opportunities of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related procedure for hemodialysis (HD) patients have been increasing recently. However, the complication rate of ERCPs in HDpatients has not been evaluated sufficiently. We aimed to clarify the feasibility of ERCPs in HDpatients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 76 consecutive ERCPs for HDpatients between January 2005 and December 2012 in one university hospital and three tertiary-care referral centers. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) was performed in 21 HDpatients. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for complications of all ERCPs and EST in HDpatients. RESULTS: The incidence of pancreatitis, cholangitis, and cardiopulmonary complications for ERCPs in HDpatients was 7.9% (6/76), 1.3% (1/76), and 1.3% (1/76), respectively. The mortality rate was 2.6% (2/76), and it occurred after acute pancreatitis in one patient and pneumonia in the other patient. The incidence of hemorrhage and pancreatitis with EST was 19% (4/21) and 4.8% (1/21), respectively. The duration of HD was significantly longer in the patients with hemorrhage after EST than without (19.5 vs 6 years; P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is feasible in HDpatients. However, EST is not advisable because of the high hemorrhage rate, particularly for patients with a long duration of HD.