| dc.description.abstract | Abstract. Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ERCP, is commonly used in the treatment of common bile duct stones. However, it is the endoscopic procedure which causes the most complications and has the highest procedure related mortality. Post-ERCP pancreatitis and cholangitis are reported as the most common complications. There is an increasing focus on quality assessment and evaluation as a means to reduce the complication rate further. Objective: All ERCP procedures performed in Akershus University Hospital in the six year period from 2009 to 2014 were reviewed. In the present study patients undergoing ERCP for common bile duct stones were selected to assess efficacy and safety of the procedure. Methods: The patients undergoing ERCP were identified by search in the hospital’s electronic medical record system, DIPS, and the endoscopy database, Endobase. Information was recorded retrospectively for the years 2009-2013 and prospectively for 2014. The follow-up was until March 2016. Results: The most common post-ERCP complications were pancreatitis (4,7%) and cholangitis (4,6%). Cannulation of the pancreatic duct increased the risk of complications significantly (p = 0,001). Increased concrement size (> 10mm) was suggestive of increased complication risk, but the difference was not significant (p = 0,158). The procedure related mortality was 0,6%, which was significantly lower than in the whole data set (p = 0,008). The 30 day mortality rate was 2,5%. Conclusion: The complication and mortality rates were low and comparable to those reported by other studies in Norway, Europe and, to some extent, the US. | nob |