The Significance of the 4-Hours Post-ERCP Serum Amylase Level to Predict Post-ERCP Pancreatitis

ERCP is a very important therapeutic tool and Acute Pancreatitis remains the most common and feared complication. The recognition of the risk factors for post ERCP pancreatitis and the high risk patients is highly desirable & in this study we evaluate the relation between post ERCP serum amylase level and the incidence of post procedure acute pancreatitis. Patients and Methods: The study was performed on 100 patients exposed to the ERCP in endoscopy unit of internal medicine hospital, Kasr Al-Ainy Hospitals either therapeutic or diagnostic over a period of 18 month and a blood sample for serum amylase 4-hours later was measured and then the patients were followed up for occurrence of acute pancreatitis. Results: 9% of the patients developed acute pancreatitis with a positive correlation was found between the incidence of pancreatitis and 4-hours post ERCP amylase level & the study showed high incidence of pancreatitis with other ERCP parameters. Conclusion: From our study that showed the relation between serum amylase level and incidence of post ERCP acute pancreatitis, we found that 4 hours post ERCP serum amylase level estimation is helpful to guide us and to predict patients with high risk of acute pancreatitis.