ENDOSCOPIC THERAPY OF BILIARY AND PANCREATIC DISORDERS IN CHILDREN

Although many reports in the literature describe the use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in children, few mention t he therapeutic application of the technique in treating pediatric pati ents with pancreatic or biliary pathology. We report here on our two-y ear experience, consisting of 42 ERCPs conducted in 25 patients for a variety of pancreaticobiliary indications. Ages ranged from 22 months to 19 years. Five patients had normal studies; the remainder were diag nosed with a variety of pancreatic and or biliary anomalies. Seventeen patients had therapeutic interventions consisting of sphincterotomy ( n = 12), dilation (n = 6), or stent placement (n = 9), with many of th ese procedures being done in combination. Five patients had mild compl aints of abdominal pain or vomiting immediately after ERCP, but no maj or technical or medical complications were encountered. We find that t herapeutic ERCP can be safely performed in children, but only by highl y experienced endoscopists familiar with these specialized procedures.