Open AccessERCP in acute biliary pancreatitis
Author(s) -
Dimitrios Kapetanos
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
world journal of gastrointestinal endoscopy
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1948-5190
DOI - 10.4253/wjge.v2.i1.25
Subject(s) - endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography , medicine , magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography , acute pancreatitis , pancreatitis , endoscopic ultrasound , general surgery , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , gastroenterology
The role of urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in acute biliary pancreatitis is for many years a subject for disagreement among physicians. Although the evidence seemed to be in favor of performing ERCP, endoscopists usually hesitate to conform to the guidelines. ERCP is an invasive procedure, with complications which can affect patients' outcome. Recent evidence suggests that we should probably modify our policy, recruiting less invasive procedures, like magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound, before conducting ERCP in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis. In this editorial the different aspects regarding the role of ERCP in acute biliary pancreatitis are discussed.