Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the management of pancreaticobiliary disorders in children.
OBJECTIVE
The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not yet fully established in children. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of ERCP in the diagnosis and management of various pancreaticobiliary disorders in children.


METHODS
Eighty-four ERCPs were performed over 5.5 years in 72 children with suspected pancreaticobiliary tract disorders with an adult-type duodenoscope. In all cases, indications, procedure time, ERCP findings, complications, patients course and therapeutic intervention (if any) were recorded.


RESULTS
The mean (+/- SD) age of these children was 8.8 +/- 3.3 years. Successful cannulation was possible in 70 (97%) cases. Of the 44 cases with suspected biliary tract disease, 14 had a choledochal cyst, 13 had portal biliopathy, two each had CBD stones, primary sclerosing cholangitis and a bile leak, one had biliary ascariasis, eight had a normal cholangiogram, and CBD cannulation failed in two. Eight of the 28 children with suspected pancreatic disorders had chronic pancreatitis, five had pancreatic duct disruption, three had pancreas divisum and the rest had a normal pancreatogram (including all eight children with unexplained abdominal pain). Therapeutic ERCP was performed in 22 children, endoscopic nasobiliary or a nasocystic drain was placed in 16, biliary stenting was conducted in two, pancreatic duct stenting was conducted in three, and minor papilla dilation was conducted in one child. Six children had mild procedure-related complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is very useful in the treatment of cholangitis, bile leak, pseudocyst and pancreatic fistulae in children. However, its role in unexplained abdominal pain is doubtful.
Poddar
U
U
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. ujjalpoddar@hotmail.com
Thapa
B R
BR
Bhasin
D K
DK
Prasad
A
A
Nagi
B
B
Singh
K
K
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome