Surgeon-performed pediatric ERCP at an academic center: 10-year data

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes and safety of pediatric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) performed by surgeons at an academic center. Methods Retrospective review of 168 pediatric ERCP procedures performed at a tertiary academic center between 2012 and 2022. All procedures were performed by three fellowship-trained general surgeons specializing in flexible endoscopy. Results A total of 168 ERCPs were performed in 146 pediatric patients during the 10-year period. Mean age was 13 years, and the youngest patient was 2 months old. The most common indication was choledocholithiasis, followed by primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic or recurrent pancreatitis, and stricture or leak after liver transplant. Successful cannulation was achieved in 95.8% of cases. The overall complication rate was 5.3%, with no ERCP-related mortality within 30 days. Conclusion We demonstrate that ERCP is a safe procedure in the pediatric population, with a high success rate, when performed by fellowship-trained surgeons at an academic center.