[Emergency ERCP and acute biliary pancreatitis].

In the period from 1992 to 1997, a total of 130 urgent therapeutic ERCPs were performed at the 2nd Department of Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine in Brno. The examination was indicated because of acute pancreatitis, acute septic cholangitis, and papillary ileus. Fifty nine patients with proven acute biliary pancreatitis and successful endoscopic papillosphincterotomy were followed up subsequently. Information on 44 patients could be retrieved (75%). The results were evaluated and compared with a group of patients treated for acute biliary pancreatitis at the 2nd Department of Surgery in Brno before introduction of urgent therapeutic ERCPs. In addition to lower mortality, in the group of patients who underwent endoscopy a decrease in the percentage of surgical revisions needed was reached, and in the group with conservative treatment, statistically significant reduction of hospitalization was duration achieved. (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 14.)