AIM:To determine the effectiveness of pancreatic duct(PD) stent placement for the prevention of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) in high risk patients.METHODS:Authors conducted a single-blind,randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent against post-ERCP pancreatitis,including rates of spontaneous dislodgement and complications.Authors defined high risk patients as having any of the following:sphincter of Oddi dysfunction,difficult cannulation,prior history of post-ERCP pancreatitis,pre-cut sphincterotomy,pancreatic ductal biopsy,pancreatic sphincterotomy,intraductal ultrasonography,or a procedure time of more than 30 min.Patients were randomized to a stent group(n = 60) or to a non-stent group(n = 60).An abdominal radiograph was obtained daily to assessspontaneous stent dislodgement.Post-ERCP pancreatitis was diagnosed according to consensus criteria.RESULTS:The mean age(± standard deviation) was 67.4 ± 13.8 years and the male:female ratio was 68:52.In the stent group,the mean age was 66 ± 13 years and the male:female ratio was 33:27,and in the non-stent group,the mean age was 68 ± 14 years and the male:female ratio was 35:25.There were no significant differences between groups with respect to age,gender,final diagnosis,or type of endoscopic intervention.The frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis in PD stent and non-stent groups was 1.7%(1/60) and 13.3%(8/60),respectively.The severity of pancreatitis was mild in all cases.The frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis in the stent group was significantly lower than in the non-stent group(P = 0.032,Fisher’s exact test).The rate of hyperamylasemia were 30%(18/60) and 38.3%(23 of 60) in the stent and non-stent groups,respectively(P = 0.05,χ2 test).The placement of a PD stent was successful in all 60 patients.The rate of spontaneous dislodgement by the third day was 96.7%(58/60),and the median(range) time to dislodgement was 2.1(2-3) d.The rates of stent migration,hemorrhage,perforation,infection(cholangitis or cholecystitis) or other complicationss were 0%(0/60),0%(0/60),0%(0/60),0%(0/60),0%(0/60),respectively,in the stent group.Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in high risk factors between the two groups.The pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent safely prevented post-ERCP pancreatitis in high risk patients.CONCLUSION:Pancreatic stent placement is a safe and effective technique to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis.Therefore authors recommend pancreatic stent placement after ERCP in high risk patients. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of pancreatic duct (PD) stent placement for the prevention of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in high risk patients. METHODS: Authors conducted a single-blind, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent against post-ERCP pancreatitis, including rates of spontaneous dislodgement and complications. Authors defined high risk patients as having any of the following: sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, difficult cannulation, prior history of post-ERCP pancreatitis, pre-cut sphincterotomy, pancreatic ductal biopsy, pancreatic sphincterotomy, intraductal ultrasonography, or a procedure time of more than 30 min. Patients were randomized to a stent group (n = 60) or to a non-stent group (n = 60) daily to assessspontaneous stent dislodgement. Post-ERCP pancreatitis was diagnosed according to the consensus criteria .RESULTS: The mean age (± standard devi was 67.4 ± 13.8 years and the male: female ratio was 68: 52. The stent group, the mean age was 66 ± 13 years and the male: female ratio was 33:27, and in the non-stent group, the mean age was 68 ± 14 years and the male: female ratio was 35: 25.There was no significant differences between groups with respect to age, gender, final diagnosis, or type of endoscopic intervention. The frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis in PD and non-stent groups were 1.7% (1/60) and 13.3% (8/60), respectively. The severity of pancreatitis was mild in all cases. The frequency of post-ERCP pancreatitis in the stent group was significantly lower than in the non-stent group (P = 0.032, Fisher’s exact test). The rate of hyperamylasemia were 30% (18/60) and 38.3% (23 of 60) in the stent and non- 0.05, χ2 test). The rate of spontaneous dislodgement by the third day was 96.7% (58/60), and the median (range) time to dislodgement was 2 .1 (2-0% (0/60), 0% (0/60), 0% (0/60), 0% (0/60), 0% (0/60), 0% (0/60), respectively, in the stent group. Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in high risk factors between the two groups. Pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent safely prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis in high risk patients. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic stent placement is a safe and effective technique to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. Who Prefer recommend pancreatic stent placement after ERCP in high risk patients.