Does Endoscopic Sphincterotomy and/or Cholecystectomy Reduce Recurrence Rate of Acute Biliary Pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Practice guidelines from international societies have recommended cholecystectomy during the same hospitalization for acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). The aim of this study is to investigate the question of whether endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) and/or cholecystectomy during the same hospitalization can reduce the recurrence rate of ABP.

METHODS: A total of 119 patients with ABP admitted to our institution between May 2005 and May 2010 who had complete follow-up data until May 2012 were enrolled.

RESULTS: No significant differences in initial CT severity index and Charlson comorbidity index were observed between EST (n = 64) and non-EST group (n = 55) and among subgroups classified according to interventions performed. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, significantly higher recurrence rates of ABP were observed in the non-EST group compared to the EST group (p <œ 0.01), and in the conservative treatment group compared to other intervention groups (p <œ 0.01). The frequency of complications from ABP was significantly higher in the conservative treatment group (35.7%) and lowest in the EST plus cholecystectomy group (5.0%, p = 0.008). In multivariate analysis, conservative treatment without EST and/or cholecystectomy, and non-EST group were independent risk factors for recurrence after the initial attack of ABP.

CONCLUSIONS: ERCP with EST and cholecystectomy during the index admission is associated with reduced recurrence rates of ABP.