title: Metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and endoscopic sphincterotomy for the treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ERC+ES) has been advocated for the management of acute biliary pancreatitis. However, it is also viewed as dangerous. Our objective was to review published randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) of ERC+ES in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and, by metaanalysis, to estimate the overall efficacy and safety of this approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a fully recursive literature search for published RCTs of ERC+ES in gallstone-related acute pancreatitis. RCTs were pooled. Individual and overall mortality and complication rates were calculated, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction (RRR), and numbers needed to treat (NNT) for avoidance of complications or death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four published RCTs had a numerically lower complication rate, and three had a numerically lower mortality rate, in the treated groups than in controls. After pooling, there were 460 treated patients and 374 controls. Complications occurred in 115 (25.0%) treated patients and 143 (38.2%) controls (z = 4.10; p < 0.001). Twenty-four treated patients (5.2%) and 34 controls (9.1%) died (z = 2.15; p < 0.05). ERC+ES had a 34.6% RRR for complications and a 42.9% RRR for death; ARR for complications and death was 13.2% (95% CI: 6.9-19.5%) and 3.9% (95% CI: 0.35-7.45%), respectively. The NNT for avoidance of complications and death was 7.6 and 25.6, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ERC+ES reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis. Treating 26 such patients with ERC+ES is predicted to save one life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72207-7199, USA.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Howden
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015996:Survival Rate