Radiation doses to ERCP patients are significantly lower with experienced endoscopists

Background Patients undergoing ERCP receive nontrivial doses of radiation, which may increase their risk of developing cancer, especially young patients. Radiation doses to patients during ERCP correlate closely with fluoroscopy time. Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether endoscopist experience is associated with fluoroscopy time. Design Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Setting Data from 69 providers from 6 countries. Patients 9,052 entries of patients undergoing ERCP. Main Outcome Measurements Percent difference in fluoroscopy time associated with endoscopist experience and fellow involvement. Results For procedure types that require less fluoroscopy time, compared with endoscopists who performed > 200 ERCPs in the preceding year, endoscopists who performed 200 ERCPs in the preceding year, endoscopists who performed