Radiation exposure during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography according to clinical determinants

This study aimed to analyze the dose of radiation to which the physician is exposed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and to identify predictive factors of radiation exposure during the procedure. Furthermore, we evaluated the patient characteristics and procedural factors associated with prolonged fluoroscopy time (FT). A cross-sectional retrospective analysis of 780 ERCPs performed at a tertiary academic hospital over a 2-year period was conducted. The primary outcome was radiation exposure during ERCP as determined by FT; additionally, the association between variables and radiation exposure was determined. Moreover, we evaluated their correlations with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, duration of procedure, procedure name, and procedure complexity. According to the analysis of the 780 ERCPs performed in 2 years, the mean FT was 5.07 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.87–5.26). The mean radiation durations were as follows: cholelithiasis, 5.76 minutes (95% CI, 4.75–6.80); malignant biliary obstruction, 6.13 minutes (95% CI, 5.91–6.35); pancreatic disease, 5.28 minutes (95% CI, 4.45–6.28); and benign biliary stricture, 5.32 minutes (95% CI, 5.02–5.94). Significant differences affecting fluoroscopy duration between the 2 endoscopists were not observed in the present study. Multivariate analysis revealed that prolonged fluoroscopy duration was related to specific characteristics, including higher BMI (BMI >27.5 kg/m(2)) (+4.1 minutes; 95% CI, 2.56–5.63), mechanical lithotripsy (+4.85 minutes; 95% CI, 0.45–9.25), needle-knife use (+4.5 minutes; 95% CI, 2.15–6.86), and malignant biliary obstruction (+2.34 minutes; 95% CI, 0.15–4.53). ERCPs are associated with significantly higher radiation exposure of patients on the specific procedure. Endoscopists should be aware of the determining factors, including patients with obesity, who underwent mechanical lithotripsy, who had malignant biliary obstruction, and who underwent a procedure using a needle knife, that affect FT during ERCP.