Role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in diagnosis and management of congenital choledochal cysts: 28 pediatric cases
Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 05/17/2012
De Angelis P et al. – In the pediatric experience, ERCP is feasible and safe. It can rule out other possible biliary tract anomalies and help plan the timing and choice of the appropriate surgical procedure.
Methods- From 2005 to 2011, 28 patients were reviewed (21 female, 7 male; mean age, 5.71 years; range, 2–16 years).
- After imaging, all patients underwent elective ERCP and were referred for surgery.
- Choledochal cyst was diagnosed at ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in all examined patients; common biliopancreatic duct was diagnosed in 3 (20%) of 15 patients at magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and in none at ultrasound.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed choledochal cyst in all patients and common biliopancreatic duct in 19 (68%) of 28 patients.
- Twelve patients underwent sphincterotomy. All patients underwent surgical extrahepatic biliary tree resection and hepaticojejunal anastomosis.
- Mean period of hospitalization was 9.5 days (range, 6–13 days). No major complications related to ERCP were observed.
- Two patients needed postoperative ERCP for complications (pancreatitis during follow–up).
