Grant: Project Grant

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a common procedure performed in Canada, with an estimated 50,000 procedures per year, equivalent to the number of appendectomies or hip replacements. ERCP is a type of endoscopy, where a long tube with a camera at the end is inserted into the mouth, crosses the bowel, and is then used to perform techniques to help with conditions of the bile ducts or pancreas. Pancreatitis, painful inflammation of the pancreas, is the most common serious complication that can occur after ERCP, happening in 5-15% of patients. The proposed study will explore the effects of 5 different practical short-term intravenous fluid volumes on the prevention of pancreatitis after ERCP. There is surprisingly no current evidence to guide doctors on how much fluid to give around the time of ERCP (i.e.: whether it makes a difference or not, and whether it is completely safe). Therefore, the results of the proposed study have the potential to impact ERCP practices worldwide.