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(PEP), according to research published online in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In addition, methods for PEP prophylaxis in clinical practice are not implemented to the extent that the current evidence warrants.
“Future studies should not only further clarify the optimal PEP prophylaxis strategy, but should also focus on strategies to improve the implementation of evidence-based PEP prophylaxis techniques,” wrote Patrick Avila, MD, MPH, gastroenterologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues.
A survey of American endoscopists
Approximately 4% of patients who undergo biliopancreatic endoscopy develop PEP, which has a mortality rate of 3%. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) recommends prophylactic and rectal NSAIDs to reduce the incidence and severity of PEP in patients at high risk. The ASGE further suggests that rectal indomethacin may decrease the risk and severity of PEP in patients at average risk.
The European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommends rectal indomethacin for all patients undergoing ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). Several surveys of European endoscopists, however, indicate that relatively few respondents have adopted the recommended prophylactic techniques. The literature does not contain information about practice patterns among American endoscopists, and Dr. Avila and colleagues decided to investigate this question.
The researchers developed a 16-question online survey to assess current practice patterns with regard to PEP prophylaxis. They defined ERCPs that entailed a high risk for PEP as any that involved pancreatic or precut sphincterotomy, traumatic biliary sphincterotomy, balloon dilation of the biliary sphincter, injection of the pancreatic duct, extensive pancreatic duct instrumentation, difficult cannulation, suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, previous PEP, or a female patient. Dr. Avila and colleagues distributed the survey to 233 advanced endoscopists involved in advanced endoscopy fellowship training programs.
Respondents had years of experience
Sixty-two endoscopists (26.7%) completed the survey. Respondents’ mean age was 47 years, and most respondents (74.6%) had been performing ERCP for more than 5 years. Almost all respondents (95%) worked at a tertiary referral center, and all worked with fellows.
All respondents reported having used to prevent PEP. Most responders (72%) used only in patients at high risk of PEP, and 64% reported using in 25% or less of the ERCPs that they had performed. Four respondents (6.8%) used for PEP in more than half of ERCPs. Among endoscopists who rarely use for PEP, the major reasons cited included concern about increased risk of PEP with failed pancreatic duct insertion, the belief that stents do not provide additional benefit beyond pharmacologic prophylaxis, and difficulties in following up patients to ensure stent passage.
About 98% of respondents reported using rectal NSAIDs for PEP. Thirty-four respondents (59.7%) used this treatment only for patients at high risk, and 23 respondents (40.1%) used it for patients at average risk. Among respondents who used rectal NSAIDs to prevent PEP, 67.8% used the treatment in half or more of ERCPs. The NSAID of choice was indomethacin for all respondents. One respondent reported never using rectal NSAIDs for PEP because of doubts about its efficacy, in addition to cost and availability.
In addition, 49 respondents (83.0%) reported using rapid intravenous fluids to prevent PEP. None reported using octreotide or antibiotics to prevent PEP.
Results may reflect recall bias
The survey reveals “a significant divergence from the scientific evidence in how PEP techniques are used in routine clinical practice,” wrote Dr. Avila and colleagues. Several studies, including a randomized controlled trial, support the use of rectal NSAIDs as prophylaxis as patients at average risk of PEP, but less than half of respondents reported using it. The ASGE guidelines state that this treatment is “reasonable,” but do not advocate for it. “If appropriate, adopting a stronger stance in our practice guidelines may lead to further widespread use of rectal NSAIDs in this group of patients,” wrote Dr. Avila and colleagues.
Pancreatic duct stent placement is a difficult procedure to perform. The success rate in one British study was 51%, and a study of expert pancreaticobiliary endoscopists found a failure rate of 7%. It therefore may not be surprising that was used less often than rectal NSAIDs among respondents, according to the authors.
Dr. Avila and colleagues acknowledged that the survey’s low response rate could have introduced nonresponse bias into the findings. They also stated that the study may have been affected by selection and recall biases. The results thus may not be generalizable to other practice settings, they concluded.
The authors did not report any study funding or disclosures.
* This story was updated on 12/2/2019.
SOURCE: Avila P et al. Gastrointest Endosc. 2019 Nov 16. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2019.11.013.
(PEP), according to research published online in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In addition, methods for PEP prophylaxis in clinical practice are not implemented to the extent that the current evidence warrants.
“Future studies should not only further clarify the optimal PEP prophylaxis strategy, but should also focus on strategies to improve the implementation of evidence-based PEP prophylaxis techniques,” wrote Patrick Avila, MD, MPH, gastroenterologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues.
A survey of American endoscopists
Approximately 4% of patients who undergo biliopancreatic endoscopy develop PEP, which has a mortality rate of 3%. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) recommends prophylactic and rectal NSAIDs to reduce the incidence and severity of PEP in patients at high risk. The ASGE further suggests that rectal indomethacin may decrease the risk and severity of PEP in patients at average risk.
The European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommends rectal indomethacin for all patients undergoing ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). Several surveys of European endoscopists, however, indicate that relatively few respondents have adopted the recommended prophylactic techniques. The literature does not contain information about practice patterns among American endoscopists, and Dr. Avila and colleagues decided to investigate this question.
The researchers developed a 16-question online survey to assess current practice patterns with regard to PEP prophylaxis. They defined ERCPs that entailed a high risk for PEP as any that involved pancreatic or precut sphincterotomy, traumatic biliary sphincterotomy, balloon dilation of the biliary sphincter, injection of the pancreatic duct, extensive pancreatic duct instrumentation, difficult cannulation, suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, previous PEP, or a female patient. Dr. Avila and colleagues distributed the survey to 233 advanced endoscopists involved in advanced endoscopy fellowship training programs.
Respondents had years of experience
Sixty-two endoscopists (26.7%) completed the survey. Respondents’ mean age was 47 years, and most respondents (74.6%) had been performing ERCP for more than 5 years. Almost all respondents (95%) worked at a tertiary referral center, and all worked with fellows.
All respondents reported having used to prevent PEP. Most responders (72%) used only in patients at high risk of PEP, and 64% reported using in 25% or less of the ERCPs that they had performed. Four respondents (6.8%) used for PEP in more than half of ERCPs. Among endoscopists who rarely use for PEP, the major reasons cited included concern about increased risk of PEP with failed pancreatic duct insertion, the belief that stents do not provide additional benefit beyond pharmacologic prophylaxis, and difficulties in following up patients to ensure stent passage.
About 98% of respondents reported using rectal NSAIDs for PEP. Thirty-four respondents (59.7%) used this treatment only for patients at high risk, and 23 respondents (40.1%) used it for patients at average risk. Among respondents who used rectal NSAIDs to prevent PEP, 67.8% used the treatment in half or more of ERCPs. The NSAID of choice was indomethacin for all respondents. One respondent reported never using rectal NSAIDs for PEP because of doubts about its efficacy, in addition to cost and availability.
In addition, 49 respondents (83.0%) reported using rapid intravenous fluids to prevent PEP. None reported using octreotide or antibiotics to prevent PEP.
Results may reflect recall bias
The survey reveals “a significant divergence from the scientific evidence in how PEP techniques are used in routine clinical practice,” wrote Dr. Avila and colleagues. Several studies, including a randomized controlled trial, support the use of rectal NSAIDs as prophylaxis as patients at average risk of PEP, but less than half of respondents reported using it. The ASGE guidelines state that this treatment is “reasonable,” but do not advocate for it. “If appropriate, adopting a stronger stance in our practice guidelines may lead to further widespread use of rectal NSAIDs in this group of patients,” wrote Dr. Avila and colleagues.
Pancreatic duct stent placement is a difficult procedure to perform. The success rate in one British study was 51%, and a study of expert pancreaticobiliary endoscopists found a failure rate of 7%. It therefore may not be surprising that was used less often than rectal NSAIDs among respondents, according to the authors.
Dr. Avila and colleagues acknowledged that the survey’s low response rate could have introduced nonresponse bias into the findings. They also stated that the study may have been affected by selection and recall biases. The results thus may not be generalizable to other practice settings, they concluded.
The authors did not report any study funding or disclosures.
* This story was updated on 12/2/2019.
SOURCE: Avila P et al. Gastrointest Endosc. 2019 Nov 16. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2019.11.013.
(PEP), according to research published online in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. In addition, methods for PEP prophylaxis in clinical practice are not implemented to the extent that the current evidence warrants.
“Future studies should not only further clarify the optimal PEP prophylaxis strategy, but should also focus on strategies to improve the implementation of evidence-based PEP prophylaxis techniques,” wrote Patrick Avila, MD, MPH, gastroenterologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues.
A survey of American endoscopists
Approximately 4% of patients who undergo biliopancreatic endoscopy develop PEP, which has a mortality rate of 3%. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) recommends prophylactic and rectal NSAIDs to reduce the incidence and severity of PEP in patients at high risk. The ASGE further suggests that rectal indomethacin may decrease the risk and severity of PEP in patients at average risk.
The European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommends rectal indomethacin for all patients undergoing ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). Several surveys of European endoscopists, however, indicate that relatively few respondents have adopted the recommended prophylactic techniques. The literature does not contain information about practice patterns among American endoscopists, and Dr. Avila and colleagues decided to investigate this question.
The researchers developed a 16-question online survey to assess current practice patterns with regard to PEP prophylaxis. They defined ERCPs that entailed a high risk for PEP as any that involved pancreatic or precut sphincterotomy, traumatic biliary sphincterotomy, balloon dilation of the biliary sphincter, injection of the pancreatic duct, extensive pancreatic duct instrumentation, difficult cannulation, suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, previous PEP, or a female patient. Dr. Avila and colleagues distributed the survey to 233 advanced endoscopists involved in advanced endoscopy fellowship training programs.
Respondents had years of experience
Sixty-two endoscopists (26.7%) completed the survey. Respondents’ mean age was 47 years, and most respondents (74.6%) had been performing ERCP for more than 5 years. Almost all respondents (95%) worked at a tertiary referral center, and all worked with fellows.
All respondents reported having used to prevent PEP. Most responders (72%) used only in patients at high risk of PEP, and 64% reported using in 25% or less of the ERCPs that they had performed. Four respondents (6.8%) used for PEP in more than half of ERCPs. Among endoscopists who rarely use for PEP, the major reasons cited included concern about increased risk of PEP with failed pancreatic duct insertion, the belief that stents do not provide additional benefit beyond pharmacologic prophylaxis, and difficulties in following up patients to ensure stent passage.
About 98% of respondents reported using rectal NSAIDs for PEP. Thirty-four respondents (59.7%) used this treatment only for patients at high risk, and 23 respondents (40.1%) used it for patients at average risk. Among respondents who used rectal NSAIDs to prevent PEP, 67.8% used the treatment in half or more of ERCPs. The NSAID of choice was indomethacin for all respondents. One respondent reported never using rectal NSAIDs for PEP because of doubts about its efficacy, in addition to cost and availability.
In addition, 49 respondents (83.0%) reported using rapid intravenous fluids to prevent PEP. None reported using octreotide or antibiotics to prevent PEP.
Results may reflect recall bias
The survey reveals “a significant divergence from the scientific evidence in how PEP techniques are used in routine clinical practice,” wrote Dr. Avila and colleagues. Several studies, including a randomized controlled trial, support the use of rectal NSAIDs as prophylaxis as patients at average risk of PEP, but less than half of respondents reported using it. The ASGE guidelines state that this treatment is “reasonable,” but do not advocate for it. “If appropriate, adopting a stronger stance in our practice guidelines may lead to further widespread use of rectal NSAIDs in this group of patients,” wrote Dr. Avila and colleagues.
Pancreatic duct stent placement is a difficult procedure to perform. The success rate in one British study was 51%, and a study of expert pancreaticobiliary endoscopists found a failure rate of 7%. It therefore may not be surprising that was used less often than rectal NSAIDs among respondents, according to the authors.
Dr. Avila and colleagues acknowledged that the survey’s low response rate could have introduced nonresponse bias into the findings. They also stated that the study may have been affected by selection and recall biases. The results thus may not be generalizable to other practice settings, they concluded.
The authors did not report any study funding or disclosures.
* This story was updated on 12/2/2019.
SOURCE: Avila P et al. Gastrointest Endosc. 2019 Nov 16. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2019.11.013.
FROM GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY