Background and study aims: The aim of this study was to assess the significance and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in diagnosing and treating bile duct injuries in children.
Patients and methods: Fourteen pediatric patients, with traumatic or postoperative bile duct injury, in which ERCP was performed, were retrospectively evaluated.
Results: We performed 46 ERCP and 12 endoscopic papillotomies in children with suspected bile duct injuries. A bile stent was primarily inserted in 13 patients and there were 20 replacements. Endoscopic treatment of bile leakage without need for bile duct sutures or reconstruction was successful in 85.7%. Post ERCP complications included cholangitis and recurrent bleeding, which occurred only in two patients each.
Conclusions: ERCP and endoscopic bile stent insertion is a highly effective, minimally-invasive treatment for bile duct injury and should be included as part of the therapeutic procedures in pediatric patients with suspected bile duct injury.
Keywords: Bile duct trauma; ERCP; bile duct stenting.