For 40 years, the post-ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) pancreatitis has been the most frequent adverse effect of endoscopic transpapillary interventions. We sought to determine the efficacy of thoracic epidural analgesia for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Between 2008 and 2013, a randomized study of the results of endoscopic treatment of 491 patients was conducted. The first group of patients (N=247) received thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) during ERCP procedures, the patients of the second group (N=244) received a narcotic analgesic. To detect statistically significant differences between research groups adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Preoperatively the subjects were randomly assigned (by using sealed envelopes - blind randomization) into two groups, 250 patients each.

The patients of the first group had TEA applied during the ERCP procedure; other methods of pain relief were applied to the patients of the second (control) group.

The first group (TEA group) of patients received the following premedication: atropine sulfate 0.5-1 mg, midazolan 5 mg. The puncture and catheterization of the epidural space was carried out according to standard procedure between thoracic vertebrae VII-VIII. Half an hour before performing ERCP ropivacaine 0.5% -10 ml. was injected into the epidural space.

The second group (control group) of patients received the following premedication: atropine sulfate 0.5 -1 mg, midazolan 5 mg, trimeperidine 2% -1 ml.

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients with performed therapeutic ERCP;
• The ERCP procedure was performed in a patient for the first time;
• Prior to the ERCP procedure the patient didn't have any clinical signs of acute pancreatitis.

Exclusion criteria:

- Development of complications during the ERCP procedure that required urgent surgical intervention (massive haemorrhage, Dormia basket avulsion and others).