Clinical Research Directory

Prevention of Desaturations Using Positive Airway Pressure or Capnometry During ERCP

Although sedation during endoscopy is sufficiently safe, desaturations are among the most common side effects of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures, occurring in approximately 20-30% of cases. Sedation during endoscopy increases the complication rate, and a significant proportion of severe and serious side effects are respiratory/airway-related. However, most patients require sedation to complete the procedure and achieve adequate outcomes during therapeutic ERCP. Therefore, improved measures to increase ERCP safety are needed. Since the demand for anesthesia in many centers already (far) exceeds current capacities, performing additional ERCPs under general anesthesia is not an option. Innovative ways to improve cardiorespiratory monitoring or respiratory management during ERCP could offer a solution without significantly increasing costs. Fortunately, dedicated devices for respiratory management and/or monitoring during endoscopy already exist, but their impact on improving patient safety has not yet been well studied. Therefore, the aim of this prospective, randomized, open-label, non-interventional study is to investigate the effects of non-invasive airway management and respiratory monitoring devices on desaturation rate during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. For this purpose, 288 adult patients (male and female, 18+ years) undergoing ERCP for medical reasons will be enrolled and randomized to one of three groups: (i) airway management using positive airway pressure (PAP group), (ii) additional monitoring using capnography (capnography group), and (iii) a control group with standard monitoring/treatment (i.e., 2 L O2/min via nasal cannula) (control group). Patients are monitored during the ERCP procedure according to medical standards (non-invasive blood oxygen saturation measurement = SpO2, regular non-invasive blood pressure measurement, pulse), and all desaturation events (defined as an SpO2 \<85% for any duration according to guidelines) are recorded and treated according to guideline recommendations (the studies do not specify any measures for the (non-)treatment of desaturations). After the procedure, patients are followed (passively) for 30 days (review of medical records) to record late complications. The main outcome parameter is the comparison of the desaturation rate in the PAP versus the control group.

STTEPP: Safety, Tolerability and Dose Limiting Toxicity of Lacosamide in Patients With Painful Chronic Pancreatitis

The investigators propose to conduct a dose-escalation trial of an FDA-approved antiepileptic drug, lacosamide, added to opioid therapy in patients with chronic abdominal pain from chronic pancreatitis (CP). This pilot trial will test the feasibility of the study design and provide reassurance regarding the tolerability and safety of lacosamide used concomitantly with opioids in this patient population to reduce the condition known clinically as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH).

Post-ERCP Pancreatitis - Prophylactic Measures Implementation Study (PEP-PROMIS)

This is a prospective, observational (non-interventional), multicenter study that will look at how often inflammation of the pancreas (called post-ERCP pancreatitis, or PEP) occurs after an endoscopic procedure known as ERCP. The study will take place in several hospitals in Slovakia and Czechia and will include all patients who have this procedure during the study period. ERCP is a common procedure used to treat problems in the bile ducts and pancreas. Although generally safe, it sometimes leads to PEP, which is the most frequent and potentially serious complication. Monitoring the rate of PEP helps doctors evaluate the overall quality of ERCP procedures, since patient safety is an important part of quality care. The study will also look at how well hospitals follow current prevention guidelines from two major professional organizations-the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE)-and how these prevention methods affect the risk of PEP. This information will help identify how closely real-world practice follows recommended preventive measures and provide new data about PEP rates in the region.

Efficacy and Safety of Anricofen Combined With Ciprofol for Deep Sedation in Elderly Patients Undergoing ERCP

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a key technique for treating pancreatobiliary diseases in the elderly. However, traditional sedative and analgesic regimens (e.g., sufentanil combined with propofol) are associated with a high incidence of respiratory depression, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and delayed recovery in elderly patients. Anricofen is a novel peripherally selective κ-opioid receptor agonist that provides analgesia with minimal central respiratory depression. Ciprofol is a new sedative agent characterized by rapid onset and quick recovery. The combination of these two drugs may offer a safer sedation and analgesia regimen for elderly patients undergoing ERCP. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of anricofen combined with ciprofol for deep sedation in elderly patients undergoing ERCP, compared with the traditional regimen (sufentanil combined with ciprofol). Methods: This is a single-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. A total of 141 elderly patients aged 60-90 years with ASA physical status II-III scheduled for elective ERCP will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to three groups: Anricofen 0.3 μg/kg + Ciprofol 1.0 mg/kg, Anricofen 0.5 μg/kg + Ciprofol 1.0 mg/kg, or Sufentanil 0.1 μg/kg + Ciprofol 1.0 mg/kg. The primary efficacy endpoint is the intraoperative pain control success rate (proportion of time with Behavioral Pain Scale \[BPS\] score ≤3 ≥90%). The primary safety endpoint is the incidence of respiratory depression (respiratory rate \<10 breaths/min or SpO₂ \<90% requiring intervention). Secondary outcomes include sedation depth, body movement episodes, recovery time, PONV incidence, and others. Significance: This study aims to provide a sedation and analgesia regimen with lower risk of respiratory depression and faster recovery for elderly patients undergoing ERCP.

Efficacy and Safety of a Novel ERCP Robot in the Treatment of Common Bile Duct Stone

Conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is performed under fluoroscopic guidance, exposing endoscopists to ionizing radiation and posing risks of work-related musculoskeletal injury. Robotic-assisted ERCP may mitigate these occupational hazards and potentially enhance procedural precision and stability. However, robust clinical evidence regarding its performance and safety remains limited. This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an ERCP robotic system (Electronic Endoscopic Surgery System) developed by Shanghai Aohua Photoelectricity Endoscope Co., Ltd. for common bile duct stone removal. A total of at least 200 subjects will be recruited and randomized 1:1 to either the experimental group or the control group. The experimental group will undergo robotic-assisted ERCP lithotomy using the aforementioned system, while the control group will receive conventional ERCP lithotomy using a standard duodenoscope.

Spontaneous Dislocation and Adverse Events of a Prophylactic Pancreatic Stent

A multicenter, prospective, controlled randomized study to investigate the optimal duration of protective pancreatic stents after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The primary endpoint is the complication rate that can be clinically attributed to the remaining pancreatic prosthesis or its removal in the study groups. Secondary endpoints are spontaneous removal of the pancreatic stent, length of hospital stay, rate of follow-up examinations per group, influencing factors, and a possible exploratory analysis.

Pre-cut Versus Intentional Double Guidewire for ERCP Cannulation: Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an indispensable therapeutic procedure in the management of a wide spectrum of pancreaticobiliary disorders, including choledocholithiasis, benign and malignant biliary strictures, pancreatic ductal obstructions, and postoperative bile leaks. The procedure has revolutionized the management of these conditions, often obviating the need for surgery.Precut papillotomy and Double Guidewire Technique (DGT) are both salvage techniques used in ERCP when standard biliary cannulation fails. Precut (Needle-Knife Precut): An endoscopic incision made into the papilla to gain access to the bile duct when conventional methods fail. Intentional Double Guidewire Technique (DGT): A technique where a guidewire is intentionally placed into the pancreatic duct to act as a "guide" or anchor, straightening the biliary axis and allowing a second guidewire to be inserted into the bile duct.

Indian National Study to Assess Incidence and Severity of Post-ERCP Pancreatitis After Following SOP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an indispensable therapeutic procedure in the management of a wide spectrum of pancreaticobiliary disorders, including choledocholithiasis, benign and malignant biliary strictures, pancreatic ductal obstructions, and postoperative bile leaks. The procedure has revolutionized the management of these conditions, often obviating the need for surgery. However, despite its therapeutic efficacy, ERCP carries a significant risk of procedure-related adverse events, of which post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common and clinically important complication. The reported incidence of PEP in prospective multicenter studies ranges from 7 % to 10 % in unselected populations, and may increase to 15 % or higher in high-risk subsets such as patients with difficult cannulation, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, or a prior history of pancreatitis or PEP. Although the majority of cases are mild and self-limited, a small but important proportion (approximately 10-15 %) progress to moderate or severe disease, resulting in prolonged hospitalization, increased cost, and occasionally mortality. Over the past two decades, extensive research has improved our understanding of PEP pathogenesis and risk stratification. Several patient-related (younger age, female sex, prior PEP or pancreatitis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, asymptomatic choledocholithiasis) and procedure-related (difficult cannulation, pancreatic duct contrast injection or guidewire passage, pancreatic sphincterotomy, endoscopic papillary balloon dilation) predictors have been identified.

Indomethacin vs Diclofenac for Preventing PEP

Pancreatitis is the most common and serious complication following post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and is associated with occasional mortality, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare expenses. Preprocedural administration of rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was demonstrated to be an effective and convenient strategy for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Furthermore, several meta-analyses found that only 100mg indomethacin and diclofenac could effectively reduce PEP. Therefore, updated international clinical practice guidelines uniformly recommended administration of 100mg indomethacin or diclofenac in patients without contradictions. However, it was unclear which one of the two drug is more superior. A recent meta-analysis suggested 100mg rectal diclofenac was more efficacious than same-dose rectal indomethacin in PEP prevention (relative risk (RR) 0·59, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0·40-0·89). Based on the results, we conducted a multicenter, double-blind, control trial to investigate whether 100mg diclofenac is superior than same-dose indomethacin. This trial planned to enroll 3612 patients in total. However, in the first interim analysis, PEP occurred in 53 patients (8.8%) of 600 patients allocated to diclofenac group and 37 patients (6.1%) of 604 patients allocated to indomethacin group (relative risk (RR) 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-2.16, p=0.074). Thus, the trial was stopped according to the futility rule of conditional power. However, it was worth noticing that PEP tended to be higher in diclofenac group than that in indomethacin group. A sample size of 1204 was under power to draw the conclusion of significantly lower PEP rate in indomethacin group and thus a new trial with larger sample size of sufficient power is predicted to prove the superiority of indomethacin over diclofenac. Here we conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial to investigate whether 100mg indomethacin is superior to 100mg diclofenac in preventing PEP.

Early vs Late Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy After Common Bile Duct Stones Clearance Through Ercp.

There is controversy about timing of cholecystectomy after the common bile duct is cleared of stones. our study aims to compare the results of early vs late cholecystectomy.

Management of Pediatric Pancreatic Calculi At a Single Center: a Retrospective Cohort Study

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the long-term effects of ERCP and surgery in pediatric patients with pancreatic duct stones. The main objective is to determine the optimal treatment choice(ERCP or surgery) for children with pancreatic duct stones and identify the appropriate timing for surgery in patients who have undergone multiple ERCP procedures, in order to avoid adverse outcomes caused by repeated trauma to the duodenal papilla. Last updated on January 24, 2025.