Published online May 31, 2019. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v7.i5.249
Peer-review started: March 4, 2019
First decision: March 27, 2019
Revised: May 7, 2019
Accepted: May 11, 2019
Article in press: May 11, 2019
Published online: May 31, 2019
Processing time: 34 Days and 15.8 Hours
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays a major role in the investigation and treatment of pancreaticobiliary diseases. However, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is a severe adverse effect. Prior meta-analyses have shown that prophylactic PS was useful for preventing PEP. However, abstract reports and patients who underwent endoscopic ampullectomy were included in the previous analyses. In addition, two meta-analyses involved non-randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The efficacy of PS for preventing severe PEP was different in each meta-analysis. Therefore, we performed the current meta-analysis, which included only full-text articles, and added new findings.
To reveal the efficacy of prophylactic pancreatic stent (PS) placement for preventing PEP.
We searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and PubMed databases for related RCTs. Among the reports retrieved, 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis. All full-text articles were published between 1993 and 2016. A total of 1475 patients were enrolled in the included studies; of these patients, 734 had a PS inserted, and 741 did not have a PS inserted. PEP and severe PEP occurrence were evaluated in this meta-analysis.
PEP was observed in all studies and occurred in 39 (5.3%) patients who received a PS. On the other hand, PEP occurred in 141 (19%) patients who did not receive a PS. The occurrence of PEP was significantly lower in the patients who underwent PS placement than in the patients who did not receive a PS (OR = 0.32; 95%CI: 0.23-0.45; P < 0.001). In addition, the occurrence of severe PEP was evaluated. Notably, the occurrence of severe PEP was not observed in the stent group; however, the occurrence of severe PEP was observed in 8 (1.3%) patients who did not have a PS inserted. Severe PEP occurred significantly less often in the stent group than in the no stent group (OR = 0.24; 95%CI: 0.06-0.94; P = 0.04).
In conclusion, prophylactic PS placement is useful for preventing PEP and severe PEP.
Core tip: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays a major role in the investigation and treatment of pancreaticobiliary diseases. However, post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is a severe adverse effect. To prevent PEP, prophylactic pancreatic stent (PS) placement was recommended in some randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We performed this meta-analysis that included only RCTs with full-text articles to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic PS for preventing PEP. As a result, the rates of PEP and severe PEP occurrence were statistically lower in the stent group than in the no stent group. Prophylactic PS was efficient in preventing PEP.