Early Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography is Associated With Improved Health Care Resource Utilization in Acute Biliary Pancreatitis Without Cholangitis

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in managing uncomplicated acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) remains unclear. This population-based study assessed the impact of ERCP timing on outcomes in hospitalized ABP patients without cholangitis or sepsis. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Readmission Database (2016 to 2020), patients with ABP who underwent ERCP were identified, excluding those with cholangitis/sepsis. ERCP timing was categorized as early (0 to 1 d) or delayed (2 to 7 d). Outcomes, including mortality, 30-day readmissions, and health care resource utilization were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 54,250 noninfectious ABP patients, 42.13% underwent ERCP. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between early and delayed ERCP groups (0.26% vs. 0.24%, P =0.73). However, 30-day readmission rates rose with each day of delay in the delayed ERCP group ( P