Preventive pancreas stenting followed by a needle knife fistulotomy in selected patients with high risk of post-ercp pancreatitis – a pilot study

Introduction: Sphincter of Oddi (SO) dysfunction (SOD) is regarded as an independent risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis. It has been proposed that with preventive pancreatic stent application one can reduce the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis from about 20% to 5%. Recently we published that early needle knife precut papillotomy is also beneficial in these patients (pts). The aims of our pilot study were to combine these techniques (needle knife precut fistulotomy and preventive pancreatic stenting) and to prospectively analyze post-ERCP complications. Methods: Preventive pancreatic stent insertion was attempt…