Diagnostic efficacy of ERCP in cholestatic infants and neonates – a retrospective study on a large series

Abstract

ERCP in cholestatic infants, when performed in an expert center, is a safe and reliable procedure that can detect biliary tract abnormalities (e. g. biliary atresia, bile duct stones or choledochal cysts) with high sensitivity and specificity. Laparotomies can be prevented in infants by demonstrating normal patency of the biliary tract by ERCP or by magnetic resonance cholangiography if improvements in this technique are made.