Published online Sep 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i9.426
Revised: May 21, 2014
Accepted: June 27, 2014
Published online: September 16, 2014
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an endoscopic procedure with high frequency of accidental symptoms, and particularly some patients who develop and aggravate pancreatitis due to the procedure may need treatment of surgery or die. Various attempts were performed so far to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis, however, it is impossible to completely prevent pancreatitis at this time because there are various factors for occurrence of post-ERCP pancreatitis. One of the most frequent causes of post-ERCP pancreatitis is considered to be congestion of pancreatic juice associated with duodenal papilledema after examination or treatment. Recently it is often reported that use of a pancreatic duct stent may prevent occurrence of pancreatitis which occurs because of an increased inner pressure of the pancreatic duct caused by congestion of pancreatic juice associated with duodenal papilledema. However, there are some patients who develop pancreatitis even if treated with the pancreatic duct stent, thus further clarification of the pathology and advancement of the prophylactic method will be needed.
Core tip: There are some patients who can avoid occurrence of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (ERCP) pancreatitis by pancreatic duct stenting. However, it is impossible to prevent all post-ERCP pancreatitides by pancreatic duct stenting, and further examination will be needed.