Effect of Aggressive Fluid Therapy on Outcomes after Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Pancreatitis is a serious complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which may lead to death. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preventive effect of aggressive fluid therapy on the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis. In double-blind controlled condition, 240 patients were selected and divided into two groups. The treatment of the intervention group (n = 120) included a dose of 20 mL/kg of ringer lactate infusion within 90 minutes before ERCP and 3 mL/kg/h during ERCP followed by 3 mL/kg/h up to 8 hours. The treatment of the control group (n = 120) included a dose of 1.5 mL/kg of ringer lactate infusion during ERCP up to 8 hours later. Firstly, the patients were evaluated in terms of excessive fluid and serum amylase and pain level, and then they were re-evaluated 2, 8, and 24 hours after ERCP. The mean age of the patients was 51.57 ± 13.5 years. Most of the patients were female (54.5%). Pancreatitis was developed in 26 patients including 5.83% of the patients in the intervention group and 15.83% of the patients in the control group (p = 0.013). Pancreatic pain was seen in 7.5% of the patients in the intervention group and in 27.5% of the control group (p < 0.005). Hyperamylasemia was seen in 20.83% of the patients in the intervention group and in 35% of the control group (p = 0.014). The mean days of hospital admission was 1.308 ± 0.807 in the intervention group and 1.425 ± 0.876 in the control group (p = 0.275). Aggressive fluid therapy with ringer lactate solution before ERCP can effectively prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis, pancreatic pain, and hyperamylasemia.