Background Acute cholangitis is a life‐threatening condition that requires prompt biliary drainage, typically achieved through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, data on outcomes of procedures performed outside of regular working hours remain limited. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of out‐of‐working‐hours ERCP for acute cholangitis. Methods A retrospective analysis of 83 patients who underwent out‐of‐working‐hours ERCP for acute cholangitis was conducted. Patients were categorized by cholangitis severity (mild, moderate, and severe) and procedure timing ( 15 days, p = 0.006). Conclusion Out‐of‐working‐hours ERCP was associated with high technical success and a low complication rate in this cohort. Out‐of‐working‐hours ERCP achieved high rates of successful biliary drainage with an acceptable safety profile, and ERCP performed within 12 h was independently associated with a lower risk of prolonged hospitalization.
Kenarlı et al. (Thu,) studied this question.