Short-Stay Aggressive Hydration to Prevent Post-ERCP Pancreatitis (PuSH)

August 18, 2026 updated by: Nicholas Burgess, Westmead Hospital

Preventing Post ERCP Pancreatitis by Short Stay Aggressive Hydration (PuSH) -a Prospective Randomized Trial.

Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is the most common serious adverse event after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), occurring in roughly 7-15% of patients. Rectal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and peri-procedural aggressive intravenous hydration each reduce PEP, but published hydration regimens are delivered over 8-24 hours and require an overnight hospital stay, which is impractical where ERCP is increasingly performed as a same-day procedure.

This multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial tests whether a short (under 4 hours) aggressive hydration regimen with Lactated Ringer's solution, combined with rectal indomethacin, is superior to standard care (rectal indomethacin plus low-volume hydration) for preventing PEP, while supporting same-day discharge. Adults undergoing ERCP are randomised 1:1. The primary outcome is the incidence of PEP defined by consensus (Cotton) criteria. A total of 1300 participants (650 per arm) will be enrolled.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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.

Detailed Description

Design: multicentre, parallel-group, superiority RCT with 1:1 allocation, conducted in high-volume tertiary academic endoscopy units.

Interventions: All participants receive 100 mg indomethacin per rectum within 30 minutes before or after ERCP. Participants randomised to aggressive hydration receive a peri-procedural bolus of Lactated Ringer's 20 mL/kg over ~1 hour, then 3 mL/kg/hour for 3 hours (post-procedure infusion capped at 1000 mL). Participants randomised to standard care receive low-volume Lactated Ringer's at the discretion of the endoscopist/anaesthetist (up to 1.5 mL/kg/hour, max 500 mL over 3 hours). For BMI > 40 kg/m2, infusion rates are capped assuming a BMI of 40. Pancreatic duct stenting is permitted in both arms at the proceduralist's discretion per guidelines. Aggressive hydration is discontinued if signs of fluid overload develop.

Follow-up: pre-discharge assessment (fluid-overload exam, pain), a 24-hour telephone follow-up (bloods if symptomatic), and a 30-day telephone follow-up for delayed events and hospitalisation.

Analysis: primary analysis by intention-to-treat; per-protocol analysis also performed. Statistical analysis is conducted blinded to allocation.

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 (Estimated)

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.
1300

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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:

  • Age over 18 years
  • Undergoing ERCP
  • Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to give consent
  • Clinical signs/symptoms of congestive cardiac failure (pitting oedema, NYHA class ≥ 2, or oxygen saturation ≤ 90%)
  • Respiratory failure (pre-procedure SpO2 < 90% on room air, or requirement for non-invasive/mechanical ventilation)
  • Contraindication to rectal NSAIDs (allergy; active gastrointestinal bleeding)
  • Estimated GFR (MDRD) ≤ 30 mL/min
  • Altered biliary or duodenal anatomy (e.g. prior biliary/pancreatic surgery, Roux-en-Y reconstruction)
  • Known hypo- or hypernatraemia (serum sodium < 130 or > 150 mmol/L)
  • Pregnancy
  • Severe liver disease (cirrhosis with ascites)
  • Previous sphincterotomy (unless undergoing pancreatic duct intervention)
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Chronic pancreatitis (unless undergoing a pancreatic duct intervention)
  • Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
  • Pancreatic mass causing biliary obstruction

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: Aggressive Hydration
Rectal indomethacin 100 mg plus short-stay aggressive hydration: Lactated Ringer's bolus 20 mL/kg over ~1 hour, then 3 mL/kg/hour for 3 hours (post-procedure infusion capped at 1000 mL).
Other: Short-Stay Aggressive Hydration
Lactated Ringer's bolus 20 mL/kg over ~1 hour then 3 mL/kg/hour x 3 hours (cap 1000 mL post-procedure); rate capped at BMI 40 if BMI > 40.
Drug: Rectal Indomethacin
Indomethacin 100 mg per rectum within 30 minutes before, during or after ERCP.
Active Comparator: Standard Care
Rectal indomethacin 100 mg plus standard low-volume hydration at proceduralist/anaesthetist discretion (Lactated Ringer's up to 1.5 mL/kg/hour, max 500 mL over 3 hours).
Drug: Rectal Indomethacin
Indomethacin 100 mg per rectum within 30 minutes before, during or after ERCP.
Other: Standard Peri-procedural Hydration
Low-volume Lactated Ringer's at operator discretion, up to 1.5 mL/kg/hour, max 500 mL over 3 hours.

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-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP)
Time Frame: Within 72 hours after ERCP (onset within 24 hours)
PEP defined by consensus (Cotton) criteria, requiring ALL of: new or worsened upper abdominal pain; serum amylase or lipase at least 3x the upper limit of normal; pain and enzyme elevation persisting for at least 24 hours; and hospitalisation (or prolongation) of at least 2 days attributable to pancreatitis.
Within 72 hours after ERCP (onset within 24 hours)

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
PEP not fulfilling full Cotton criteria
Time Frame: Within 72 hours after ERCP (onset within 24 hours)
Post-ERCP pancreatitis not meeting full Cotton criteria.
Within 72 hours after ERCP (onset within 24 hours)
Delayed PEP
Time Frame: 24 hours to 30 days after ERCP
Post-ERCP pancreatitis (by Cotton criteria) with onset more than 24 hours after ERCP, identified after initial discharge.
24 hours to 30 days after ERCP
Severity of PEP
Time Frame: Within 30 days after ERCP
Severity graded by Cotton criteria and the Revised Atlanta Classification
Within 30 days after ERCP
ERCP associated adverse events
Time Frame: Within 30 days after ERCP
ERCP-associated adverse events graded by consensus (Cotton) criteria as mild, moderate, or severe: bleeding, perforation, and infection (cholangitis).
Within 30 days after ERCP
Signs of fluid overload
Time Frame: Peri-procedural to 24 hours after ERCP
Pulmonary oedema, peripheral (pitting) oedema, or exacerbation of congestive cardiac failure.
Peri-procedural to 24 hours after ERCP
Hospitalization for any reason within 30 days
Time Frame: Within 30 days after ERCP
Proportion of participants hospitalised (including unplanned admission or readmission) for any reason within 30 days of ERCP. Ascertained from medical records and the 30-day follow-up call.
Within 30 days after ERCP
Cost effectiveness
Time Frame: Within 30 days after ERCP
Cost-effectiveness of short-stay aggressive hydration versus standard care, comparing total cost of healthcare resource use (intravenous fluids and consumables, procedure/recovery time, length of stay, and PEP-related admissions or readmissions) in relation to PEP cases avoided. Reported as incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for post-ERCP pancreatitis cases avoided.
Within 30 days after ERCP
Hospitalization Length of Stay
Time Frame: Within 30 days of ERCP
In participants hospitalised (including unplanned admission or readmission) for any reason within 30 days of ERCP, the length of hospital stay measured in days. Ascertained from medical records and the 30-day follow-up call.
Within 30 days of ERCP
Hospitalization for PEP Length of Stay
Time Frame: Within 30 days of ERCP
In participants hospitalised (including unplanned admission or readmission) for PEP within 30 days of ERCP, the length of hospital stay measured in days. Ascertained from medical records and the 30-day follow-up call.
Within 30 days of ERCP

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.
Westmead 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: Nicholas Burgess, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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.
June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
December 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
June 1, 2029

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).
August 5, 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.
August 18, 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.
August 20, 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.
August 20, 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.
August 18, 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.
August 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.
  • 2019/ETH13255

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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