Impact of the teamwork expertise in the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a single center experience

Aims Post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) is a common complication. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the implementation of a well-trained and dedicated nursing staff could reduce the incidence of PEP.

Methods We retrospectively included all patients with naïve papilla who underwent ERCP by a single operator in our department, between January 2021 and April 2022, divided into two groups before and after the implementation of a dedicated nursing staff (n=110 and n=116, respectively). We considered the development of PEP (defined by hyperamylasemia and/or hyperlipasemia >3 x ULN with typical abdominal pain and/or characteristic findings on imaging) as primary outcome and hyperamylasemia or hyperlipasemia alone and the need for ancillary techniques for biliary cannulation as secondary outcomes.

Results Overall, 17 patients developed PEP. Although not statistically significant, there was a lower percentage of PEP in the second period (10% vs. 5.2%; p=0.13). The incidence of both hyperamylasemia and hyperlipasemia was significantly higher in the first period (35% vs. 27 %, p=0.05, and 32% vs. 19%, p=0.05, respectively) together with higher rates of difficult biliary cannulation and precut (24% vs. 12%, p=0.01, and 18.8% vs. 8%, p=0.02, respectively).

Conclusions PEP is a common and not completely preventable complication. Nevertheless, our preliminary results seem to suggest the importance of a dedicated and well-trained nursing staff to reduce the rate of this complication.

 

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Conflicts of interest

Authors do not have any conflict of interest to disclose.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
14. April 2023