Financial Impacts of Nonpancreatic Complications Post-ERCP

Researchers have examined the occurrence and financial impact of nonpancreatic adverse events following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), with a focus on complications like cholangitis, bleeding, and cardiopulmonary issues. This cross-sectional study utilized the Merative MarketScan database to analyze procedures from January 2019 to December 2021, encompassing 27,482 patients who underwent 42,318 ERCPs. The study's primary outcome was the incidence of nonpancreatic complications within 30 days post-procedure. Results indicated that 5.3% of the cases experienced adverse events, with cholangitis in 3.6%, bleeding in 1.3%, and cardiopulmonary complications in 1.1%. Researchers utilized multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors and calculate the costs related to these complications. The financial analysis revealed a substantial increase in healthcare costs for patients with these complications. Adjusted 30-day costs were notably higher for patients with cholangitis ($38,512 compared to $30,881), bleeding ($43,702 compared to $30,918), and cardiopulmonary complications ($53,649 compared to $30,918). Additionally, many patients incurred out-of-pocket expenses over $1,000, with variations based on insurance type and region. This study, published in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, highlights the significant economic burden of nonpancreatic post-ERCP events on healthcare systems, providing insights into better risk management and resource allocation.