Loading...
The most effective means of lowering the incidence of post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not yet known, but most research has focused on prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting and pure-cut current for sphincterotomy. Now, researchers have evaluated whether post-ERCP pancreatitis incidence is lower with soft-tipped guidewire cannulation of the bile duct than with conventional cannulation.
Three hundred patients in Brazil and the U.S. were randomized to standard cannulation (group I) or guidewire cannulation (group II). The two groups were similar in terms of demographics and indications for ERCP; however, group II contained significantly more women than did group I (59 vs. 41). For standard cannulation in group I, a …