Adverse Outcomes of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography at Gastroenterology and Hepatology Centers in Sulaymaniyah and Duhok City

Abstract

Background 
 Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has a significant and managing management of pancreaticobiliary diseases in Iraq and Kurdistan. Evaluating ERCP adverse outcomes is essential in raising the effectiveness and safety of ERCP.
 Objectives 
 To review and measure the rate of ERCP complications in our centre and compare our results with other countries.
 Patients and Methods
 The present study was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out in the Kurdistan Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (KCGH) in Sulaimani city and Azadi Gastroenterology and Hepatology Center in Duhok city, Kurdistan region-Iraq through the period of one year from 1st of November 2020, to 31st of October, 2021 on a sample of two hundred patients underwent ERCP; 140 patients from Sulaimani city and 60 patients from Duhok city. The researcher followed up with the patients one month after completing ERCP through direct interviews or by phone calling to observe any ERCP adverse outcomes.
 Results
 The most typical indication for ERCP among studied patients was choledocholithiasis (43.7%), followed by; stent removal with occlusion cholangiography (12%) and biliary malignancy (11.6%). The commonest findings of ERCP among studied patients were bile duct dilation (42.3%), filling defects (33.8%) and bile duct strictures (14.7%). The post-ERCP complications were present in 45 (22.5%) patients, including pancreatitis (12.5%), cholangitis (4.5%), hypoxia (3.5%), bleeding (1.5%), perforation (1.5%) and death (0.5%). 
 Conclusion
 The adverse outcomes of ERCP in KCGH in Sulaimani City and the Gastroenterology and Hepatology centre in Duhok city are increased in the last year.