ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the influence of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and endoscopic biliary stenting on postoperative pancreatitis. Methods 412 patients referred to ERCP were divide into 7 groups, there were both biliary and pancreatic ducts group (ERCP), biliary duct contrast filling group (ERC), pancreatic duct contrast filling group (ERP), ERCP plus biliary stenting group (stent), ERC plus stent, ERCP plus EST and stone extraction (SE) group, and ERC plus EST and SE group. And the differences of postoperative serum amylase in 4 hours and in 24 hours as well as clinical symptoms were compared among different groups. Results The incidence of postoperative hyperamylasaemia in 4 hours and 24 hours were 17.7% and 4.4% respectively. The incidence of postoperative acute pancreatitis was 3.9%, and ERP group had the highest incidence of postoperative acute pancreatitis among the 7 groups. Conclusions Repeated pancreatic duct contrast filling during ERCP manipulation is the main risk factor for postoperative pancreatitis, and therapeutic ERCP such as EST, stent and SE does not increase the incidence of postoperative pancreatitis.