prophylactic pancreatic stents in high-risk population and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis

background: acute pancreatitis is a common complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ercp). several medical and surgical procedures have been analyzed in prevention of post-ercp pancreatitis as a major post-ercp complication, so we conducted a study to assess the role of prophylactic pancreatic stents on prevention and severity of post-ercp pancreatitis. materials and methods: this case control studied adult patients undergoing ercp at the ercp unit of a referral educational hospital. data of the case (stent, n=90) and control (non-stent) (n=105) groups were retrieved from medical records. in our center, sphinctrerotomy was performed for 103 patients of non-stent group and successful pancreatic stent placement was done in 86 patients of stent group in a standard fashion. in stent group, a 5f, 4 centimeter pancreatic stent was emplaced over a guide wire under fluoroscopic guidance. all post–ercp pancreatitis and major complications of all patients were retrieved too. results: of 255 enrolled patients, 195 were at high risk of post-ercp pancreatitis allocated in two groups of this study. successful pancreatic stent placement was done in 86 patients (95.6%) of stent group. there was no major complication during procedures. the migration of pancreatic duct stent was diagnostic in 3 (3.5%) patients. the overall post ercp pancreatitis was 4.0% and 16.6% in stent and non-stent groups, respectively. conclusion: based on our findings in this study, we strongly recommended pancreatic duct stent placement in high-risk patients; although the experience of endoscopist plays a crucial role. [gmj.2015;4(2):67-71]