Efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in familial adenomatous polyposis patients after duodenectomy

OBJECTIVES: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients with Spigelman stage IV polyposis should be considered for prophylactic duodenectomy. Post‐surgical pancreaticobiliary complications occur and may require management via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We aimed to assess the success and adverse events of ERCP in FAP patients after pancreas‐sparing duodenectomy (PSD) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: A retrospective review of FAP patients who underwent ERCP after PSD or PD from 1992 to 2020 at a quaternary referral center was completed. The technical success of ERCP was defined as the ability to identify the anastomosis and cannulate the duct. Post‐procedural adverse events were defined by bleeding, perforation, pancreatitis, or cholangitis. Clinical outcomes included the need for surgical intervention and recurrent pancreatitis after ERCP were assessed. RESULTS: Of 84 FAP patients with duodenectomy, 12 patients with PSD and two patients with PD underwent 17 ERCPs for pancreatic indications and five for biliary indications. The technical success of ERCP in patients with PSD and a single neoampullary complex for pancreatic (n = 6) and biliary (n = 5) indications was 100% but for those with PD (n = 2) or PSD reconstruction with pancreatic divisum or separate anastomoses (n = 3), it was 0%. Surgical intervention was required in 50% of patients with technically failed ERCP after PSD (2/4) and PD (1/2). There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is expected to be therapeutically successful for biliary complications following PSD. Assessment and potential therapy for pancreatitis post‐PSD are best in the setting of a single neo‐ampullary complex rather than in PD or PSD with pancreatic divisum.