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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05664074

Rectal Indomethacin vs Intravenous Ketorolac

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an essential procedure that can be complicated by post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Indomethacin and ketorolac are two medications used to prevent PEP. The main reason for this research study is to compare the effectiveness these drugs at reducing rates of PEP. There have been no studies comparing the effectiveness of these medications in preventing PEP in pediatric patients. You are being asked to take part in this research study because you are scheduled to have an ERCP as part of your medical care.

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Key information

Age range

6 month–21 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Any patient undergoing ERCP (diagnostic or therapeutic with cannulation of the major or minor papilla)
  • Age 6 month- 21 years old
  • Does not meet exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

  • < 10 kg
  • Low risk subgroup: Biliary indication with history of prior biliary sphincterotomy.
  • High risk for bleeding (Example: Planned liver biopsy)
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding in previous 3 days
  • Acute pancreatitis (within 3 days) at the time of ERCP
  • Use of NSAIDs in the previous 5 days
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Acute kidney Injury or Known Chronic Kidney Disease per KDIGO
  • Pregnancy (Pregnancy tests are administered prior to ERCP as standard of care)
  • Lithium therapy
  • Allergy to ketorolac or indomethacin
  • Organ Dysfunction or SIRS

Treatment and study plan

Rectal Indomethacin

Drug

Dosage based on subject's weight:

>=50 kg, 100 mg; 30-49 kg, 50 mg; 10-29 kg, 25 mg

IV ketorolac

Drug

Dosage based on subject's weight: 0.5 mg/kg (maximum: 15 mg)

Primary outcomes

  1. Post-ERCP Pancreatitis

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Below is the number of participants within the rectal indomethacin and IV ketorolac cohorts who developed Post-ERCP Pancreatitis-

    Post ERCP Pancreatitis: A patient must have at least 2 of the following to establish a diagnosis of post ERCP pancreatitis:

    • Characteristic physical exam findings- pain worse than admission per pain scales (please see point 2) and/or nausea
    • Amylase (unit/L) or lipase(unit/L) greater than 3 times the age appropriate upper limit of normal.
    • Normal range of amylase (15-127 unit/L)
    • Normal range of lipase (12-50 unit/L)
    • Confirmatory imaging (Ultrasound, CT or MRI) that suggests or demonstrates pancreatic inflammation
  2. Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Pancreatic Duct Injections

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    86 participants from the rectal indomethacin cohort and 83 from IV ketorolac received pancreatic duct injections during their ERCP. Below we describe the outcome measure of post-ERCP pancreatitis vs. no pancreatitis for those who received pancreatic duct injections.

  3. Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Native Papilla

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    36 participants from the rectal indomethacin cohort and 33 from IV ketorolac had a native papilla for their ERCP. Below we describe the outcome measure of post-ERCP pancreatitis vs. no pancreatitis for those who had a native papilla.

  4. Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Pancreatic Sphincterotomy

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    25 participants from the rectal indomethacin cohort and 19 from IV ketorolac received pancreatic sphincterotomies during their ERCP. Below we describe the outcome measure of post-ERCP pancreatitis vs. no pancreatitis for those who received pancreatic sphincterotomies.

  5. Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Opti-Ray Amount

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    83 participants from the rectal indomethacin cohort and 84 from IV ketorolac received various amounts of Opti-Ray during their ERCP. Below we describe the outcome measure of post-ERCP pancreatitis vs. no pancreatitis for those who received Opti-Ray.

  6. Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Therapeutic Pancreatic Duct Stent Placed

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    51 participants from the rectal indomethacin cohort and 53 from IV ketorolac received a therapeutic pancreatic duct stent during their ERCP. Below we describe the outcome measure of post-ERCP pancreatitis vs. no pancreatitis for those who received therapeutic pancreatic duct stents.

  7. Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: Prophylactic Pancreatic Duct Stent Placed

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    11 participants from the rectal indomethacin cohort and 11 from IV ketorolac received a prophylactic pancreatic duct stent during their ERCP. Below we describe the outcome measure of post-ERCP pancreatitis vs. no pancreatitis for those who received prophylactic pancreatic duct stents.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain Assessed by FLACC or NRS Scoring Post ERCP: PACU

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    A minimum of 3 pain assessments were completed by nursing staff/anesthesia during admission:

    Anesthesia/ PACU- initial pain assessment Evening-2100- pain assessment by RN Morning -0800- pain assessment by RN

    We defined *Pain score > 0 (any pain) for patients in the rectal indomethacin vs. IV ketorolac cohorts using the NRS and FLACC Pain scale.

    Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) Pain scale for patients 0-5 years of age and patients unable to verbalize pain

    Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain scale for patients 6 years old and above

    • Mild- 0 to 3
    • Moderate- 4 to 6
    • Severe- 7 to 10
  2. Pain Assessed by FLACC or NRS Scoring Post ERCP: Evening

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Not all patients were admitted following the procedure which accounts for the difference in overall number of participants analyzed.

    A minimum of 3 pain assessments were completed by nursing staff/anesthesia during admission:

    Anesthesia/ PACU- initial pain assessment Evening-2100- pain assessment by RN Morning -0800- pain assessment by RN

    We defined *Pain score > 0 (any pain) for patients in the rectal indomethacin vs. IV ketorolac cohorts using the NRS and FLACC Pain scale.

    Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) Pain scale for patients 0-5 years of age and patients unable to verbalize pain

    Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain scale for patients 6 years old and above

    • Mild- 0 to 3
    • Moderate- 4 to 6
    • Severe- 7 to 10
  3. Pain Assessed by FLACC or NRS Scoring Post ERCP: Morning

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Not all patients were admitted following the procedure which accounts for the difference in overall number of participants analyzed.

    A minimum of 3 pain assessments were completed by nursing staff/anesthesia during admission:

    Anesthesia/ PACU- initial pain assessment Evening-2100- pain assessment by RN Morning -0800- pain assessment by RN

    We defined *Pain score > 0 (any pain) for patients in the rectal indomethacin vs. IV ketorolac cohorts using the NRS and FLACC Pain scale.

    Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) Pain scale for patients 0-5 years of age and patients unable to verbalize pain

    Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Pain scale for patients 6 years old and above

    • Mild- 0 to 3
    • Moderate- 4 to 6
    • Severe- 7 to 10
  4. Laboratory Markers Associated With PEP ( Lipase)

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Lipase (unit/L)

  5. Laboratory Markers Associated With PEP (Amylase)

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Amylase value in unit/L

  6. Length of Stay

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Below is the median length of stay for participants within the rectal indomethacin and IV ketorolac cohorts. The difference in participants analyzed is due to the fact that not all participants were admitted following the procedure.

  7. Severity of Pancreatitis (Mild, Moderately Severe, Severe)

    Time frame: 2 weeks

    Severity of AP will be classified as mild, moderately severe, or severe in accordance with the NASPGHAN Classification system.

    • Mild: "AP that is not associated with any organ failure, local or systemic complications, and usually resolves within the first week after presentation."
    • Moderately Severe: "AP with either the development of transient organ failure/dysfunction (lasting no >48 hours) or development of local or systemic complications. Local complications would include development of (peri) or pancreatic complications including fluid collections or necrosis. Systemic complications would include exacerbation of previously diagnosed co-morbid disease (such as lung disease or kidney disease)."
    • Severe: "AP with development of organ dysfunction per International pediatric sepsis consensus conference (please see definition 9) that persists >48 hours. Persistent organ failure may be single or multiple, and may develop beyond the first 48 hours of presentation."

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

David Vitale MD

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Post ERCP Pancreatitis Prophylaxis, Effectiveness of Rectal Indomethacin vs Intravenous Ketorolac in the Pediatric Population

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 23, 2022
Registry last updated
Mar 12, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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