Risk factors increasing post-ERCP complications: a referral center experience

Abstract

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an important therapeutic tool in patients with hepato-pancreatobiliary diseases. In the present study, we sought to determine predictors of post-ERCP complications. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent ERCP in between January 2010- November 2011 was done. Demographics, ERCP findings, success rate and complications were evaluated with special emphasis on the difficulty in cannulation procedure, the primary etiology of the disease (benign/malign) and age. Chi-square analysis was applied for statistical analysis. The differences were considered statistically significant, if the p value was less than 0.05. Results: A total of 112 ERCP was performed in 81 patients. Thirty-eight were male (46.9 %) and 43 were female (53.1%). Mean age was 61.3 (range 17-88), and 31 patients was seventy years and older (38.3 %). Complications were detected in 28 patients (34.6 %). Nine cases with difficult or unsuccessful cannulation (69.2 %) had complications (p=0.001). Patients with benign diseases showed less complications (21/70), in comparison with those with malignancies (7/11) (30 % vs. 63.6 %, respectively; p< 0.05). Complication rate in patients 70 years and older was 32.2 % (n=10) compared to 35.3 % in patients younger than 70 (n= 18) (p >0.05). Conclusion: Risk factors such as difficult or incomplete cannulation and malignancy are considered as possible predisposing factors for complications. Age is an independent factor.