Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Children: Nine Years' Experience at Santa Fe Foundation in Bogota, Colombia

Introduction: Experience in the use of diagnostic and/or therapy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in children is limited. This is due to the underdiagnosis of pancreaticobiliary disease in the pediatric population and specialist personnel in this procedure. Objective: To determine the safety and success rate of ERCP in children at Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá between January 2007 and June 2015. Methodology: This was an observational, descriptive, retrospective case series study of patients under 18 years, who underwent ERCP between January 2007 and June 2015. The following variables were analyzed: indication, duration, type of procedure, rate of success, and complications. Results: A total of 30 patients were included, in whom 65 ERCP procedures were performed. Successful cannulation was achieved in 52 of the 65 procedures (80%). Among the complications that occurred, there were four cases of pancreatitis (6.2%), two cases of bleeding (3.1%), and one case of bacteremia (1.5%), and in most cases (58 in total, 89.2%), there were no complications. Discussion: The pediatric gastroenterology group of the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá has obtained good results in performing ERCP in the pediatric population with a success rate of 80% associated with a null mortality rate. There is enough literature available to conclude that performing ERCP in the pediatric population maintains an adequate success rate and a low complication rate. In all the studies evaluated, a null mortality rate was found, so it is considered that this procedure is safe in patients under 18 years of age.