Effect of Anatomy of Major Duodenal Papilla on the Difficulty of Cannulation During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Selective cannulation is an essential step for the success of ERCP. The successful cannulation is influenced by types of disease (such as Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction and duodenal stricture), the experience of endoscopists and the anatomy of papilla. It is suggested that the size, morphology, orientation and location of major duodenal papilla (MDP), could cause a difficult cannulation (Endoscopy 2016; 48: 657-683). However, the related evidences are limited. The investigators hypothesized that special anatomy of papilla, such as a lanky shape (defined by the higher ratio of length to width) and a deeper location, could increase the difficulty of cannulation. Here the investigators investigated the effects of the anatomy of major duodenal papilla on post-ERCP pancreatitis and the procedure of cannulation in patients undergoing ERCP.