title: Delayed and unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are associated with worse outcomes in patients with acute cholangitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute ascending cholangitis usually is treated with antibiotics, and biliary drainage is treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We investigated the effects of the timing of ERCP on outcomes of patients with acute cholangitis factors that predict prolonged hospital stays, increased costs of hospitalization, and composite clinical outcomes (death, persistent organ failure, and admission to the intensive care unit).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 90 patients (mean age, 60 y; 48% female) admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital from January 1994 to June 2010 who were diagnosed with acute cholangitis and underwent ERCP. A delayed ERCP was defined as one performed more than 72 hours after admission. Electronic and paper medical records were reviewed, and relevant data were abstracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ERCP was performed successfully in 92% of the patients, at a mean time period of 38 hours after admission (14% of ERCPs were delayed). Factors that were associated independently with prolonged length of hospital stay (top 10%) included unsuccessful ERCP (odds ratio [OR], 52.5; P = .002) and delayed ERCP (OR, 19.8; P = .008). Factors associated with increased hospitalization cost (top 10%) included unsuccessful ERCP (OR, 33.8; P = .004) and delayed ERCP (OR, 11.3; P = .03). Factors associated with composite clinical outcome included age (OR, 1.1; P = .01), total level of bilirubin (OR, 1.36; P = .002), and delayed ERCP (OR, 7.8; P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed and failed ERCP are associated with prolonged hospital stays and increased costs of hospitalization. Delayed ERCP is associated with composite clinical outcome (death, persistent organ failure, and/or intensive care unit stay). Older age and higher levels of bilirubin also are associated with patients' composite end point.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. mkhasha1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Mouen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khashab
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ponor
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: Marcia I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Canto
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurakar
authors.forename: Qilu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hutfless
authors.forename: Anthony N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kalloo
authors.forename: Vikesh K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods*; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents