Morphology of the major duodenal papilla for the selection of advanced cannulation techniques in difficult biliary cannulation.

backgroundMorphology of the major duodenal papilla (MDP) influences the outcome of standard biliary cannulation. However, those data on advanced cannulation techniques are scarce. We aimed to study the impact of MDP morphology on the outcome of both standard and advanced cannulation methods.

methodsImages of naïve papilla were retrospectively reviewed and independently classified into 4 types (1: classic appearance, 2: small, 3: bulging, and 4: ridged papillae). All cannulation was started with guidewire cannulation. After failure, advanced cannulation including double guidewire (DG) and/or precut sphincterotomy (PS) was performed. Outcomes including success rate and complications were analyzed.

resultsA total 805 naïve papilla were included. The overall advanced cannulation rate was 23.2%. The MPD type 2 (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.8-2.9) and type 4 (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.8) required advanced cannulation technique at a higher rate than type 1. Type 3 significantly needed a higher proportion of PS when compared with type 1 (59.09% vs 27.03%, OR 3.90, 95% CI 1.51-10.06). Overall post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was 8% and was not different among MDP types. PEP was significantly increased in difficult cannulation group (15.38% vs 5.71%, p-value < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that DG independently increased risk of PEP (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.0-6.6).

conclusionsMDP type 2 and type 4 were related to difficult cannulation. Although DG and PS can be used as advanced cannulation in all types, DG carries risk of PEP and PS may be preferred over DG in MDP type 3.