Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the necessity and safety of performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) during the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and to share our experience. Methods Clinical data from 174 patients who underwent ERCP procedures in department of surgery and department of emergency Ruijin Hospital, during the period from 17 January 2020 to 19 May 2020 as study group were analyzed retrospectively. All procedures were carried out under strict protective measures. Data from 230 patients who received ERCP during the same period last year were analyzed as control group. The medical records of patients were compared between two groups inclu-ding clinical characteristics, indications, ERCP procedure and duration, complications and hospital stay. Results The cases with biliary and pancreatic malignant obstruction in study group (52, 29.9%) increased significantly compared with those in control group (41, 17.8%) (P=0.004), while the patients of scheduled second ERCP significantly decreased [2(1.1%) vs. 33(14.3%), P<0.001]. No significant differences were present in other indications. Less cases with complete stone clearance [40(35.7%) vs. 92(61.3%), P<0.001] and more cases with plastic biliary stent insertion [101(58.0%) vs. 100(43.5%), P<0.001] were found in study group compared with control group. The complications of ERCP remained low as usual and the length of hospital stay in study group shortened 1.6 days significantly (4.7 d vs. 6.3 d, P<0.001). Neither patients nor medical staff infected with COVID-19 during study period. Conclusions During the period of COVID-19 pandemic, the demand in treatment of ERCP was similar as usual showing that it is important in clinic. It is effective and safe to perform ERCP under the premise of adopting strong prevention and control strategies.

Key words: Coronavirus Disease-2019, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopy, Epidemic di-sease