Risk Factors for Post Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Cholangitis

Cholangitis is the one of complications in post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (post- ERCP). Few studies investigated risk factors for post-ERCP cholangitis and the results showed different outcomes.

The aim of the study was to determine the contributing risk factors for post-ERCP cholangitis.

The medical records of patients who underwent ERCP from January 2013 to December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. We excluded patients who had cholangitis before ERCP. All patients received intravenous prophylaxis antibiotic before the procedure. Demographic data, interested factors and result were collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify risk factor for post-ERCP cholangitis.

227 patients enrolled where 204 (89.9%) of them were receiving therapeutic procedure. 156 (68.7%) patients were performed by high experience endoscopists (performing >50 ERCPs per year). The success rate was 87.7%. Post-ERCP cholangitis occurred in 20 (8.8%) patients as a result of therapeutic procedures. By univariate analysis, 8 variables were identified. They were male sex, age >60 year, no epigastric pain, albumin <2.5 gm/dL, bile duct cancer, common bile duct stones, change and remove bile duct stent. Multivariate analysis showed that age >60 year, albumin <2.5 gm/dL and remove bile duct stent were significantly associated with post-ERCP cholangitis.

Age >60 year, albumin <2.5 gm/dL and remove bile duct stent are three major risk factors for post-ERCP cholangitis.