Does obesity confer an increased risk and/or more severe course of post-ERCP pancreatitis?: a retrospective, multicenter study.

Background: Pancreatitis is the most common major complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Recent studies have suggested that obesity may serve as a prognostic indicator of poor outcome in non-ERCP-induced acute pancreatitis. However, to our knowledge, no one has ever investigated the potential association of obesity and ERCP-induced pancreatitis.

Risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis: a prospective multicenter study.

Objectives: Pancreatitis is the most common and serious complication of diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP. The aim of this study is to examine the potential patient- and procedure-related risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis in a prospective multicenter study.

Methods: A 160-variable database was prospectively collected by a defined protocol on patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic ERCP at 15 centers in the Midwest Pancreaticobiliary Group and participating in a randomized controlled study evaluating whether prophylactic corticosteroids will reduce the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Does prophylactic administration of corticosteroid reduce the risk and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a randomized, prospective, multicenter study.

Background: Pancreatitis is the most common major complication of diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP. There have been continuing efforts to identify a pharmacologic agent capable of reducing the frequency and severity of this complication. On the basis of several case reports, experimental data, and knowledge of their mechanism of action, corticosteroids might be effective in this regard.

A randomized, controlled trial of transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring during ERCP.

Background: Pulse oximetry, used to monitor oxygen saturation during endoscopy, does not directly measure hypoventilation. Study goals were to determine whether transcutaneous carbon dioxide (PtcCO(2)) monitoring during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) prevents severe hypoventilation and to assess the accuracy of clinical observation and pulse oximetry in detecting hypoventilation.

Methods: All patients received intensive clinical and electronic monitoring including pulse oximetry.

Same-day discharge after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy: observations from a prospective multicenter complication study. The Multicenter Endoscopic Sphincterotomy (MESH) Study Group.

Background: Same-day discharge after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (ES) is a common clinical practice, but there have been few data to guide appropriate selection of patients. Using a prospective, multicenter database of complications, we examined outcomes after same-day discharge as it was practiced by a variety of endoscopists and evaluated the ability of a multivariate risk factor analysis to predict which patients would require readmission for complications.

Methods: A 150-variable database was prospectively collected at time of ES, before discharge and again at 30 days in consecutive patients undergoing ES at 17 centers.