ERCP: Complications and prophylaxis a controlled study.

Prophylactic measures for the prevention of complications (pancreatitis, pancreatic and biliary sepsis) after an ERCP examination were investigated in a controlled study. A total of 118 patients were selected at random and divided into three groups by post-ERCP treatment (Group A: no treatment, Group B: oral prophylaxis with broad spectrum tetracycline, Group C: bedrest for 36 hours, fasting, stomach catheter and infusion prophylaxis. The total rate of complications in the study as a whole was 5% (2.5% pancreatitis, 2.5% bacterial complications). Statistical comparison of the groups produced no significant differences, i.e. neither the antibiotic nor the infusion prophylaxis proved advantageous with respect to the frequency of pancreatitis and bacterial complications. In addition to this, prophylactic measures after ERCP had no influence on the frequency, duration and extent of such temporary symptoms as abdominal discomfort, fever, leukocytosis, hyperamylasemia, hyperamylasuria and cholestasis. It is worth considering carrying out ERCP on an out-patient basis in special cases.