During ERCP, doctors use an endoscope and X-rays to view injectable dye as it travels through pancreatic and bile ducts. ERCP helps providers diagnose and treat gallstones, inflamed gallbladders, bile duct blockages, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and other conditions.
Gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in gastrointestinal disorders) use ERCP to examine and treat problems that affect the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts. Bile ducts carry bile from your liver to the gallbladder and on to the small intestine. Bile is a fluid that breaks down fat in foods.
Doctors use ERCP to diagnose and treat problems that affect the:
Bile ducts, including cancer, stones and strictures.
Gallbladder, including gallstones and cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder).
Pancreas, including pancreatitis (inflamed, swollen pancreas), pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cysts and pseudocysts
Follow your doctor’s instructions on steps to take before the procedure. Generally, you should:
Not eat, drink or smoke for at least six hours before the procedure.
Alert your doctor to any allergies, especially prior allergic reactions to intravenous (IV) contrast dyes. If you’ve had a previous reaction, you may need to take allergy medications before the procedure.
Give your doctor’s office an updated list of medications and supplements.
Talk to your doctor about whether to stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin and warfarin.
Tell your doctor if you might be pregnant. Certain anaesthesia can harm a developing foetus.
ERCP is usually an outpatient procedure, which means you go home the same day. The procedure can take one to two hours. You’ll receive IV anaesthesia (medicine to calm you). You’ll be awake for the procedure, but you probably won’t remember any of it. Someone will need to drive you home afterward.
For treatment, your doctor may insert tiny instruments through the endoscope to:
The endoscopic procedure may irritate your throat. You might need to eat soft foods for a day or two until the soreness subsides.
After ERCP, you may experience some bloating (a swollen feeling from the pumped-in air) and nausea (an anaesthesia side effect). You should be able to return to work and normal activities the next day, with your doctor’s approval.
Some people have an allergic reaction to the IV dye used during the X-ray part of the procedure. If this happens, your doctor will quickly administer medication to stop the reaction. Other rare but potential complications include:
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