Epinephrine sprayed on the papilla for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Epinephrine sprayed on the papilla may reduce papillary edema and thus prevent acute pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of this technique for prevention of post- ERCP pancreatitis.


METHODS
Patients scheduled for ERCP were recruited into this study. We randomized the patients to have 10 ml of either 0.02% epinephrine (epinephrine group) or saline (control group) sprayed on the papilla after diagnostic ERCP and prospectively analyzed the occurrence of post-ERCP pancreatitis between the groups. We recorded duct visualization, presence of pancreatic acinarization, number of injections into the pancreatic duct, total volume of contrast used, and procedure duration.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to visualization of the bile duct and/or the main and accessory pancreatic ducts, presence of pancreatic acinarization, number of injections into the pancreatic duct, total volume of contrast used, and procedure duration. Overall, post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in 4 of the 370 patients (1.1%). The incidence of pancreatitis tended to be higher in the control group (4/185) than in the epinephrine group (0/185) (P = 0.1230).


CONCLUSIONS
Epinephrine sprayed on the papilla tended to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis, although it was not statistically significant because of the low incidence of pancreatitis. Further studies on the efficacy of this technique in patients at high risk for pancreatitis, and on other volumes and/or concentrations of epinephrine, are warranted.
Matsushita
Mitsunobu
M
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, 2-3-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata, 573-1191, Japan.
Takakuwa
Hiroshi
H
Shimeno
Naoto
N
Uchida
Kazushige
K
Nishio
Akiyoshi
A
Okazaki
Kazuichi
K
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000187:drug effects; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004837:Epinephrine