Precut sphincterotomy, repeated cannulation and post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients with bile duct stone disease

Background: Repeated attempts at cannulating the papilla of Vater and "needle-knife" precut sphincterotomy are independent risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis. Whether precut alone or repeated attempts at cannulation is the culprit factor in the development of post-ERCP pancreatitis remains controversial.

Aim: To retrospectively assess the role of precutting and multiple cannulation in the occurrence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in a consecutive series of patients with bile stone disease.

Methods: 2004 patients who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography over a 9-year period for bile stones were evaluated. Pancreatitis rate was assessed in relation to the number of cannulation attempts (<10 and ≥10) and precutting.

Results: Procedures were successful in 1878 patients (93.7%). Cannulation was done without precutting in 1717 cases and with in 161. Pancreatitis occurred in 2.7% of patients who had undergone biliary cannulation without precutting and in 6.5% with (p=0.006). It was lower with <10 attempts than with ≥10 (p<0.0001), either without (p<0.0001) or with precutting (p<0.01). Pancreatitis rate did not differ without and with precutting when <10 attempts at cannulation were done, whilst it was lower when precut was done before 10 attempts than when 10 or more attempts were made without precutting (p=0.02).

Conclusions: Pancreatitis rate was lower when precut was done with <10 attempts than when ≥10 attempts were made without precutting. In experienced hands precut biliary sphincterotomy does not seem to be an independent risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography for bile duct stones.