Early Precut Versus Pancreatic Stent for Post-ERCP Pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The most common complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is pancreatitis. Precut sphincterotomy has been regarded as a risk factor. However, early precut may actually reduce post-ERCP pancreatitis risk. However, early precut as a preventive measure has not been compared to other preventive measures, such as pancreatic duct stent placement. AIM: To compare the efficacy of early precut sphincterotomy versus pancreatic duct stent placement in high-risk subjects undergoing ERCP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single-blinded, randomized trial that took place in two tertiary referral centers in Buenos Aires. ERCP subjects shall present at least one of the following risk factors: female sex, age less than 40 years, clinical suspicion of Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, previous pancreatitis, common bile duct diameter of less than 8 mm. Only those who present a difficult biliary cannulation shall be randomized into two groups: those who receive early precut sphincterotomy or those in whom persistency of biliary cannulation is intended with subsequent pancreatic duct stent placement after cholangiography is achieved. The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis as well as other complications shall be compared.