A new grading system to evaluate the risk of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to develop a system to grade the risk of the procedures summarized under the term endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).


METHODS
In a controlled prospective study, we evaluated the early complications of ERCP in 526 consecutive patients at a single endoscopy center in a defined period. The relation between endoscopic procedures and related complications was analyzed for significance. A grading system based on significant risk factors and clinical implications was developed.


RESULTS
Of the ERCP procedures, 29% were diagnostic and 71% therapeutic. A total of 45 complications occurred in 42 patients: pancreatitis (2%), perforation (1%), cardiorespiratory problems (0.6%), stent-related complications (0.5%), leakages (1.5%), and bleeding (3%). A native papilla was a significant risk factor for the development of complications (P = 0.046). On the basis of these findings, we defined five groups of ERCP-related complications: nonnative papillae with either diagnostic (A) or therapeutic interventions (B); native papillae with diagnostic (C) or therapeutic (D) interventions; and special therapeutic interventions (E). Complication rates differed significantly between individual groups, A versus D (P = 0.013), A versus E (P = 0.010), B versus D (P = 0.005), and B versus E (P = 0.003), as well as between A/B and C/D (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
A grading system based on differentiating between native and nonnative papillae and diagnostic versus therapeutic procedures demonstrated significantly different complication rates. This grading system has the potential to predict the risk of ERCP-related complications.
Zuber-Jerger
Ina
I
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93042, Germany.
Endlicher
Esther
E
Kullmann
Frank
F
Gelbmann
Cornelia M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic; D055815:Young Adult