Ar. Tanner, ERCP - PRESENT PRACTICE IN A SINGLE REGION - SUGGESTED STANDARDS FOR MONITORING PERFORMANCE, European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology, 8(2), 1996, pp. 145-148
A survey of consecutive endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
(ERCP) procedures has been undertaken for all the Units performing th
is procedure in the (old) Northern region of the UK. The process, imag
ing success, procedural success and complications have been analysed f
or 255 ERCP procedures. Overall, the results seem to be reassuring, wi
th an imaging success rate of 88% (n=297 ducts required), additional p
rocedural success rate of 88% (n=178) and with a serious complication
rate of 6%. However, there are wide differences both in terms of pract
ice (contrast agent used, antibiotic prophylaxis), imaging success (76
-95%) and outcomes (procedure success 75-100%, serious complications 0
-16%). This wide difference in practice seems difficult to justify. In
dividual Units should monitor their performance. Standards of practice
are suggested for discussion and debate.