Abstract
Purpose: To report our experience with ERCP during pregnancy including safety and efficacy. Methods: A retrospective review of all consecutive ERCPs performed on pregnant patients from October 2001 to May 2006. Results: Three ERCPs were performed on pregnant patients. Two patients presented with cholelithiasis, abnormal liver function tests and dilatation of the biliary tree by abdominal ultrasound. One patient had biliary leak demonstrated by intrabdominal fluid collection on ultrasound after laproscopic cholecystectomy. Two of the three underwent ERCP under general anesthesia and one patient underwent consious sedation supervised by an anesthesiologist. Techniques to minimize fluoroscopy were used including aspiration of bile to identify correct position of the sphincterotome. All patients with choledocholithiasis underwent sphincterotomy with stone extraction. The patient with biliary leak underwent stent placement without sphincterotomy. The procedures were successful in all cases including the biliary leak which resolved completely in two weeks. No complications related to the procedure were identified in the the mother or the babies. Conclusions: ERCP can be performed safely in pregnancy if precautions are taken to minimize radiation exposure.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
