Guidewire cannulation reduces the risk of pancreatitis, a common complication following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, according to US and Brazilian researchers.

"Guidewire cannulation is the first significantly effective strategy for reducing post procedure pancreatitis," senior investigator Dr. Atul Kumar told Reuters Health.

The findings are reported in the October issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Kumar of the Northport VA Medical Center, New York and colleagues came to this conclusion after studying 300 patients who were randomized to guidewire or conventional cannulation.

Although rates of overall complications were not significantly different between the groups, only 13 patients in the guidewire group (8.6 per cent) developed acute pancreatitis compared with 25 patients (16.6 per cent) in the conventional treatment group.

In addition, significantly fewer attempts were needed for successful bile duct cannulation in the guidewire group and significantly fewer patients needed precut sphincterectomy.

"This technique," concluded Dr. Kumar, "is simple to learn, easy to use and inexpensive, reducing the risk of pancreatitis by over half."

Am J Gastroenterol 2007;102:2147-2153.