Can early precut reduce post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in patients with difficult bile duct cannulation?

Table 2 Baseline characteristics and result of the incident rate of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis between early needle-knife precut papillotomy group and delayed needle-knife precut papillotomy group

Characteristic	EP group, n = 142	DP group, n = 152	P value
Age	74.8 ± 13.6	76.3 ± 12.4	0.39
Sex, male	81 (57)	77 (50.7)	0.29
Diagnosis
Benign	101 (71.1)	103 (67.8)	0.61
Malignancy	41 (28.9)	49 (32.2)
Diverticula	30 (21.1)	47 (37.6)	0.064
First endoscopist			< 0.01
Trainee, n = 154	43 (30.3)	111 (73.0)
Trainer, n = 141	99 (69.7)	41 (27.0)
NKPP start time in min	5.7 ± 3.1	17.1 ± 5.6	< 0.01
Success rate of cannulation	140 (98.6)	143 (94.1)	0.027
Cannulation time in min	13.2 ± 8.6	27.3 ± 12.0	< 0.01
Total procedure time in min	35.0 ± 15.7	45.8 ± 14.4	< 0.01
PEP	5 (3.5)	16 (10.5)	0.023

Data are n (%). DP: Delayed needle-knife precut papillotomy; EP: Early needle-knife precut papillotomy; PEP: Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.