title: Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not necessary in mild gallstone pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in gallstone pancreatitis is unclear. Therefore, we designed a study to establish whether ERCP is indicated in these cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 55 patients who had been admitted with gallstone pancreatitis. All of them had mild pancreatitis (Ranson's criteria <3). ERCP was carried out within 4 days of admission, once the liver function tests and serum amylase had returned to normal levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ERCP did not demonstrate common bile duct stones in any of the patients. All patients then underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the same admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative ERCP is not indicated for patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Toronto Hospital and University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street #8-331, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Himal
mesh_terms: D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications*