Early Precut Sphincterotomy Does Not Increase Risk During Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients With Difficult Biliary Access: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Compared with standard therapy, early use of precut sphincterotomy did not increase the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis in a meta-analysis. When the procedure is performed by qualified biliary endoscopists, early precut can reduce the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis. Rates of primary cannulation increase with early precut. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.