[Endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography. An overview of procedures at the Natinal University Hospital in Reykjavik 1983-1992.].
BACKGROUND
In this retrospective study we analysed all ERCP procedures performed at the National University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland, for the period 1983-1992.


METHODS
A total of 644 procedures were performed on 477 patients.


RESULTS
The main indication for a diagnostic ERCP was suspected choledocholithiasis in 58.8% of cases. Cannulation of the papilla of Vater was successfully achived in 94% of patients and in 82% the desired duct was visualised. Juxtapapillary diverticula were found in 14.5% of patients. The success at cannulation was significally less in that group. Choledocholithiasis was found in 19.4% more often in the patients with diverticula, 29.5 vs. 18.8%. The number of therapeutic interventions was 158 performed on 84 patients (24.5% of all ERCP). The most common procedure was sphincterotomy, performed in 84% of cases. Stone extraction was successfully achived in 58% of all attempts. The overall complications rate was 7%, most frequently acute pancreatitis (4.7%) followed by cholangitis (1.9%) and bleeding (0.3%). The complications were mild in the majority of cases but serious ones did occur and were fatal in three (0.5%) patients related to severe pancreatitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this retrospective study in Iceland are comparable to what others have reported previously.
Stefansson
B
B
Jonsson
A
A
Hannesson
P
P
Gudjonsson
H
H
Oddsson
E
E