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

Table 3 Analysis of efficacy of endoscopic pancreatic stenting for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis prevention

Complication	EP group, n = 142		DP group, n = 152		P value
	Without EPS, n = 79	With EPS, n = 63	Without EPS, n = 75	With EPS, n = 77
PEP	3 (3.8)	2 (3.2)	13 (17.3)	3 (3.9)	< 0.01a

^aP < 0.01 without EPS in the DP group vs with EPS in the DP group.

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