Aims Risk factors for post-ERCP complications are well-studied. However, risk factors
for complications and success after endoscopic sphicterotomy for stone management,
the main indication of ERCP, are poorly-determined. The aim of this study is to verify
risk factors for mortality, complications and success after sphincterotomy (EST)with
attempted stone retrieval.
Methods A multivariate analysis was carried out in a prospectively collected dataset of ERCPs
performed from 1997 to 2013.
Results A total of 5226 ERCPs were performed in 17 years, of which 2137 were in patients
with bile duct stones (1458 women and 679 men; mean age = 57 years) who underwent
EST with attempted stone removal. There were 171 (8%) complications- acute pancreatitis
in 87 (4.1%), bleeding, 48 (2.2%), cholangitis in 21. (1%), perforation in 7 (0.3%)
and other complications in 8 (0.4%) cases, with mortality rate of 0.6%. Successful
stone(s) removal was obtained in 2028 patients (94.9%). At clinical presentation,
6.5% (138) had cholangitis, 9.5% had acute pancreatitis (203). Pre-cut was performed
in 191 cases (9.4%). On multivariate analysis,procedure-related mortality was associated
with age > 60 yr. (1 vs. 0.2%), cholangitis (4.3 vs.0.3%) and EST–related complications
(5.8 vs. 0.2%). Complications were associated with unsuccessful stone removal (13.4
vs. 7.5%) and difficult cannulation (13.9 vs. 5.4%). An unsuccessful EST was independently
related to difficult cannulation(86.2 vs. 98.7%), precutting(79.4 vs. 96.4%) and pos-EST
complications (86.5 vs. 95.6%).
Conclusions The main risk factors for complications after EST with attempted stone removal are
delayed bile duct cannulation and failed stone retrieval. EST-associated mortality
is higher in older patients,those who presented with an EST-related complication or
those who presented initially with cholangitis. Difficult cannulation, EST-related
complications and pre-cut were associated with an unsuccessful procedure. In this
series,outpatient EST with attempted stone retrieval showed to be as safe as performing
the procedure in hospitalized patients.