• Nicolien J Schepers, Olaf J Bakker, Marc G H Besselink, Thomas L Bollen, Marcel G W Dijkgraaf, Casper H J van Eijck, Paul Fockens, Erwin J M van Geenen, Janneke van Grinsven, Nora D L Hallensleben, Bettina E Hansen, Hjalmar C van Santvoort, Robin Timmer, Marie-Paule G F Anten, Clemens J M Bolwerk, Foke van Delft, Hendrik M van Dullemen, G Willemien Erkelens, Jeanin E van Hooft, Robert Laheij, René W M van der Hulst, Jeroen M Jansen, Frank J G M Kubben, Sjoerd D Kuiken, Lars E Perk, Rogier J J de Ridder, Marno C M Rijk, Tessa E H Römkens, Erik J Schoon, Matthijs P Schwartz, B W Marcel Spanier, Adriaan C I T L Tan, Willem J Thijs, Niels G Venneman, Frank P Vleggaar, Wim van de Vrie, Ben J Witteman, Hein G Gooszen, Marco J Bruno, and Dutch Pancreatitis Study Group.
• Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus Medical Center, PO 2040, 3000, CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. n.schepers@pancreatitis.nl.
• Trials. 2016 Jan 5; 17: 5.

BackgroundAcute pancreatitis is mostly caused by gallstones or sludge. Early decompression of the biliary tree by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with sphincterotomy may improve outcome in these patients. Whereas current guidelines recommend early ERC in patients with concomitant cholangitis, early ERC is not recommended in patients with mild biliary pancreatitis. Evidence on the role of routine early ERC with endoscopic sphincterotomy in patients without cholangitis but with biliary pancreatitis at high risk for complications is lacking. We hypothesize that early ERC with sphincterotomy improves outcome in these patients.Methods/DesignThe APEC trial is a randomized controlled, parallel group, superiority multicenter trial. Within 24 hours after presentation to the emergency department, patients with biliary pancreatitis without cholangitis and at high risk for complications, based on an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE-II) score of 8 or greater, Modified Glasgow score of 3 or greater, or serum C-reactive protein above 150 mg/L, will be randomized. In 27 hospitals of the Dutch Pancreatitis Study Group, 232 patients will be allocated to early ERC with sphincterotomy or to conservative treatment. The primary endpoint is a composite of major complications (that is, organ failure, pancreatic necrosis, pneumonia, bacteremia, cholangitis, pancreatic endocrine, or exocrine insufficiency) or death within 180 days after randomization. Secondary endpoints include ERC-related complications, infected necrotizing pancreatitis, length of hospital stay and an economical evaluation.DiscussionThe APEC trial investigates whether an early ERC with sphincterotomy reduces the composite endpoint of major complications or death compared with conservative treatment in patients with biliary pancreatitis at high risk of complications.Trial RegistrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN97372133 (date registration: 17-12-2012).

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