Comparative Study between Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound before Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography vs. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography Alone

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) could be used as non-invasive procedure instead of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in pancreatico-biliary disorders diagnosis. The impact of EUS use before ERCP needs to be evaluated. This study was conducted on fifty patients with pancreatico-biliary disorders prepared to ERCP procedure. Randomly, 25 patients were subjected to ERCP directly (group-I) and for the remaining 25 patients EUS was done before ERCP (group-II). For all patients’ clear written consent, full clinical and routine laboratory assessment and abdominal sonography were done. There was no significant difference between patients of both groups regarding age and sex, clinical features, laboratory parameters, sonographic and diagnostic findings and post ERCP complications. Use of EUS before ERCP showed significant higher rates of successful stone extraction without lithotriptor and reduced the procedure duration. Further study with larger number of patients is highly recommended.