An international group of anesthesiologists and gastroenterologists published new consensus guidelines that favor deep sedation without tracheal intubation (monitored anesthesia care [MAC]) over general anesthesia for most patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Before the guidelines were developed, a large retrospective analysis performed by the primary investigator, Matthias Eikermann, MD, recommended MAC for patients undergoing ERCP.
“At the same time,