Role of Prophylactic Aggressive Hydration to Prevent Post-ERCP Pancreatitis

February 11, 2026 updated by: Muhammad Irfan Jamil, Lahore General Hospital

Role of Prophylactic Aggressive Hydration to Prevent Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, also called ERCP, is a procedure used to diagnose and treat disorders of the bile ducts and pancreas. A common and potentially serious complication after ERCP is post ERCP pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas that can cause abdominal pain, raised pancreatic enzymes, prolonged hospital stay, and increased health care costs. Several preventive approaches have been evaluated, but an optimal, simple strategy that can be applied consistently in routine practice remains uncertain. This randomized controlled trial was evaluated whether giving a higher amount of intravenous lactated Ringer's solution around the time of ERCP reduces the risk of post ERCP pancreatitis compared with standard hydration. Adults aged 18 to 70 years undergoing their first ERCP for choledocholithiasis, bile duct leak, or biliary obstruction were randomly allocated to standard hydration or aggressive hydration. Standard hydration consists of lactated Ringer's solution at 1.5 mL/kg/hour during ERCP and for 8 hours after the procedure. Aggressive hydration consisted of lactated Ringer's solution at 3 mL/kg/hour during ERCP, followed immediately by a 20 mL/kg bolus and then 3 mL/kg/hour for 8 hours, with reduction to 1.5 mL/kg/hour if pain is absent after 8 hours. The primary hypothesis was that aggressive hydration is more effective than standard hydration in preventing post ERCP pancreatitis. Post procedure serum amylase was measured at 12 and 24 hours, and pain was assessed using a visual analog scale at 4, 12, and 24 hours. The main outcome is post ERCP pancreatitis, defined by new or worsening abdominal pain with enzyme elevation more than three times the upper limit of normal at 24 hours and a hospital stay of at least 2 days. Secondary outcomes include isolated hyperamylasemia, post procedure pain, and length of hospital stay. The study was conducted over 12 months at the Department of Gastroenterology, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, with a total sample size of 126 participants.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
126

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54000
        • Lahore General Hospital, Lahore

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged between 18 to 70 years.
  • Both males and females.
  • Patients undergoing their first Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for choledocholithiasis, bile duct leak, or biliary obstruction.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who have previously undergone an ERCP, endoscopic sphincterectomy, or endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation.
  • Individuals with a known history of chronic pancreatitis, ongoing acute pancreatitis, or patients with gallstone pancreatitis or active cholangitis.
  • Patients with coagulopathy or those on anticoagulation therapy.
  • Pregnant or lactating women.
  • Substance abuse: Individuals with a history of alcohol or other substance abuse disorders.
  • Patients having hypernatremia or hyponatremia (Na <130 or Na >150 mEq/L) or Hyperkalemia (>5.1 mEq/dL).
  • Specific organ dysfunctions:
  • Patients with organ dysfunctions including cardiac insufficiency (New York Heart Association Class II or above), respiratory insufficiency (oxygen saturation <90%), renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance <40 mL/min), or liver dysfunction.
  • Clinical signs of fluid overload, specifically peripheral or pulmonary edema, and ongoing hypotension, including those with sepsis.
  • Patients undergoing sphincterotomy as it reduces the risk of pancreatitis.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Group Aggressive Hydration
Received aggressive intravenous hydration with lactated Ringer's solution during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and for the subsequent 8 hours post procedure, according to the study protocol.
Other: Aggressive intravenous hydration with lactated Ringer's solution
Lactated Ringer's solution at 3 mL/kg/hour during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Immediately after the procedure, 20 mL/kg bolus of lactated Ringer's solution. Then 3 mL/kg/hour for 8 hours. If no pain after 8 hours, rate reduced to 1.5 mL/kg/hour. Hydration discontinued once the patient can comfortably tolerate a regular diet
Other Names:
  • Lactated Ringer's solution (aggressive protocol)
Active Comparator: Group Standard Hydration
Received standard intravenous hydration with lactated Ringer's solution during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and for the subsequent 8 hours post procedure, according to standard care protocol.
Other: Standard intravenous hydration with lactated Ringer's solution
Lactated Ringer's solution at 1.5 mL/kg/hour during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Continued at 1.5 mL/kg/hour for 8 hours after the procedure. If post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis develops, a 20 mL/kg bolus may be administered, followed by 3 mL/kg/hour, as per management protocol
Other Names:
  • Lactated Ringer's solution (standard protocol)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis
Time Frame: 24 hours after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, with confirmation based on a hospital stay of at least 2 days
Post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis was diagnosed when new or worsening abdominal pain occurs after the procedure, with pancreatic enzyme elevation more than three times the upper limit of normal at 24 hours, and the clinical course requires hospital admission for at least 2 days.
24 hours after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, with confirmation based on a hospital stay of at least 2 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Frequency of isolated hyperamylasemia
Time Frame: 12 hours and 24 hours after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Isolated hyperamylasemia was defined as serum amylase elevation more than three times the upper limit of normal during the first 24 hours after the procedure, without meeting criteria for post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis.
12 hours and 24 hours after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Post procedure abdominal pain severity assessed by Visual Analog Scale
Time Frame: 4 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Abdominal pain was assessed using a 0 to 10 Visual Analog Scale. Pancreatic pain will be defined as development of pain, or an increase in pain, of at least 3 points compared with pre procedure pain score, persisting during follow up.
4 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Length of hospital stay
Time Frame: From day of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography until hospital discharge within 30 days
Length of hospital stay was measured as the number of days from the day of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to the day of discharge within 30 days.
From day of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography until hospital discharge within 30 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Lahore General Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ali Hassan, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 2, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 11, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 11, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • LahoreGeneralH14

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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