Predictive Factors for Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography-Related Complications in the Treatment of Choledocholithiasis

Abstract

Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is now the exclusive endoscopic therapeutic modality for biliary as well as pancreatic diseases. The aim of our study is to evaluate the complication rate of ERCP in the treatment of choledocholithiasis and to assess the factors related to their occurrence. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive and analytical study including 1048 patients who underwent ERCP for choledocholithiasis between January 2007 and August 2021. The factors associated with the occurrence of post-ERCP complications were studied by logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the patients studied, 60.5% had a simple lithiasis, 27.6% had multiple choledochal stones and 11.9% had large stones (> 15mm). Clinically, 18.7% of the patients presented with cholangitis and 9.4% with acute pancreatitis. A periampullary diverticulum was found in 9.4% of cases. A common bile duct stenosis was present in 6.5% of cases. The primary vacuity rate was 77.3%. However, additional manoeuvres were used in 20.5% of cases. Complications were reported in 5.8% of cases, including hemorrhage in 4.5%, pancreatitis in 0.8%, cholangitis in 0.2%, perforation in 0.1% and dormia impaction in 0.2%. No death was reported due to our procedures. In a multivariate analysis following adjustment of confounding factors, only the presence of a large stone (OR= 5.9, CI (1.460- 23.875), p=0.013) and female gender (OR= 1.867, CI (1.012-3.444), p=0.046) increased the risk of complications during ERCP. Conclusion: Our study suggests that female gender and the presence of à large gallstone are associated with a high risk of post-ERCP complications.