Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Oct 27, 2023; 15(10): 2272-2279
Published online Oct 27, 2023. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v15.i10.2272
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for diagnosing and treating pediatric biliary and pancreatic diseases
Xiu-Min Qin, Fei-Hong Yu, Chuan-Kai Lv, Zhi-Min Liu, Jie Wu
Xiu-Min Qin, Fei-Hong Yu, Jie Wu, Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing 100045, China
Chuan-Kai Lv, Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing 100045, China
Zhi-Min Liu, Department of Radiology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing 100045, China
Author contributions: Qin XM, Wu J, Yu FH proposed the concept of this study; Wu J and Liu ZM made contributions to data collection; Lv CK and Yu FH contributed to formal analysis; Qin XM, Liu ZM, Wu J, Yu FH participated in the study; Wu J contributed to the methods; Qin XM, Liu ZM, Wu J guided the research; Wu J and Qin XM validated the effectiveness of this study; Yu FH and Qin XM contributed to the visualization of this study; Qin XM and Wu J drafted the first draft; Yu FH, Liu ZM, Lv CK jointly reviewed and edited the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Beijing Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University of the National Children’s Medical Center.
Informed consent statement: All study participants or their legal guardian provided informed written consent about personal and medical data collection prior to study enrolment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: We have no financial relationships to disclose.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jie Wu, MD, Chief Doctor, Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, No. 56 Nanlishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100045, China. Wujie_0901@163.com
Received: August 3, 2023
Peer-review started: August 3, 2023
First decision: August 16, 2023
Revised: August 24, 2023
Accepted: September 6, 2023
Article in press: September 6, 2023
Published online: October 27, 2023
Processing time: 85 Days and 1.6 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

The research findings provide important perspectives for future research on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in pediatric patients with biliary and pancreatic diseases. Areas of focus include conducting long-term follow-up studies to assess durability and recurrence rates, comparative studies to compare ERCP with other treatments, investigating risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP), assessing the impact on quality of life, and conducting cost-effectiveness analyses. By addressing these research perspectives, further advancements can be made in optimizing the use of ERCP, improving outcomes, and guiding clinical decision-making in managing pediatric biliary and pancreatic diseases.

Research motivation

This study demonstrates that ERCP is both safe and effective for managing biliary and pancreatic diseases in pediatric patients. Among the 57 ERCP procedures performed in 41 children, a high success rate of 91.2% was achieved, with no major complications observed such as bleeding, perforation, or cholangitis. PEP occurred in 8.8% of cases, indicating a potential risk associated with the procedure. However, over a follow-up period of one year, no recurrences of biliary or pancreatic diseases were detected. Importantly, endoscopic treatment led to a significant increase in body mass index (BMI), highlighting its positive impact on nutritional status in pediatric patients. These findings support the valuable role of ERCP in effectively managing pediatric biliary and pancreatic diseases, thereby providing important insights for clinical practice and decision-making.

Research objectives

The research findings from this study evaluating ERCP in pediatric patients with biliary and pancreatic diseases indicate its safety and effectiveness. Among the 57 ERCP procedures performed in 41 children, the overall success rate was 91.2% with no major complications observed. PEP occurred in 8.8% of cases. Over a one-year follow-up period, there were no recurrences of biliary or pancreatic diseases. Notably, endoscopic treatment resulted in a significant increase in BMI, highlighting its potential positive impact on nutritional status. These results affirm the valuable role of ERCP in managing pediatric biliary and pancreatic diseases, emphasizing its efficacy and favorable outcomes in this patient population.

Research methods

In this study, a retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ERCP in pediatric patients with biliary and pancreatic diseases. Data from 41 children who underwent 57 ERCP procedures at Beijing Children’s Hospital were analyzed. The study assessed the success rate of ERCP procedures, occurrence of major complications, incidence of PEP, recurrence of biliary or pancreatic diseases during follow-up, and changes in BMI. The findings revealed a high overall success rate of 91.2% with no major complications observed. PEP occurred in 8.8% of cases. Follow-up examinations over one year showed no disease recurrence. Notably, endoscopic treatment led to a significant increase in BMI.

Research results

The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ERCP in pediatric patients with biliary and pancreatic diseases. These objectives included assessing the success rate of ERCP procedures, determining the occurrence of major complications, investigating PEP incidence, monitoring disease recurrence during follow-up examinations, exploring the impact on BMI, and evaluating the overall effectiveness of ERCP as a management strategy. By addressing these objectives, the study aimed to provide valuable insights into the role of ERCP in managing pediatric biliary and pancreatic diseases, contributing to improved patient care and treatment outcomes.

Research conclusions

The management of biliary and pancreatic diseases in pediatric patients presents unique challenges, and there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of ERCP specifically in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ERCP in pediatric patients with these conditions. Through a retrospective analysis of ERCP procedures performed at Beijing Children’s Hospital, important insights were gained regarding the success rate, postoperative complications, and long-term outcomes of ERCP in this patient group. These findings provide valuable groundwork for further research and optimization of treatment strategies for pediatric biliary and pancreatic diseases, enhancing the care provided to this vulnerable population.

Research perspectives

This study assessed the safety and effectiveness of ERCP in pediatric patients with biliary and pancreatic diseases. A total of 57 ERCP procedures were performed on 41 children, primarily targeting pancreatic diseases. The overall success rate was 91.2%, with no occurrences of bleeding, perforation, or cholangitis. PEP affected 8.8% of cases. Follow-up examinations spanning one year revealed no recurrence of biliary or pancreatic diseases. Notably, endoscopic treatment led to a significant increase in BMI. These findings underscore the valuable role of ERCP in managing such conditions.