Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Specialist

What is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)?

ERCP is a procedure that uses upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and X-ray technology to address issues affecting your pancreatic and bile ducts.

Bile ducts carry bile from your liver to your gallbladder; your pancreatic ducts are responsible for carrying pancreatic juice from your pancreas to the duodenum — the first part of your small intestine.

What conditions can ERCP treat?

You may need ERCP if noninvasive diagnostic testing isn’t enough to identify the root cause of unexplained symptoms, like abdominal pain. Your Long Island Gastro provider may recommend ERCP to diagnose accurately:

• Trauma
• Infection
• Gallstones
• Chronic inflammation

This test can also diagnose cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the bile ducts and pancreas.

What happens during ERCP?

To keep you comfortable, the team at Long Island Gastro works with experienced anesthesiologists to sedate and monitor you throughout your ERCP procedure. You can expect to lie comfortably on an exam table as your provider inserts an endoscope, a flexible tube with an attached light and camera, down into your throat.

The endoscope continues to travel through your digestive tract, ultimately reaching the duodenum. The camera sends real-time images of your inner structures to a monitor. Your Long Island Gastro provider may deliver air in through the scope to make structures easier to see. They also place a catheter in the area and inject a special dye into the ducts.

Using specialized X-ray technology, known as fluoroscopy, your provider follows the dye through the ducts to identify narrowed areas or blockages.

What are the benefits of ERCP?

In the event your Long Island Gastro provider discovers gallstones, tumors, or other blockages in the ducts, they can also pass tools through the endoscope to treat the condition at the time of your procedure.

Specialized tools can break up or remove gallstones or tumors or open narrowed areas within the duct using stents.

ERCP allows your specialist to diagnose and treat your condition at the same time, so there’s no need to have multiple procedures.

What can I expect after ERCP?

Since you receive sedation, you’ll need someone to drive you home after your ERCP. It’s normal to experience bloating and mild nausea following your procedure, which resolves quickly without additional treatment.

Your Long Island Gastro provider can recommend over-the-counter remedies for any sore throat you have due to the insertion of the endoscope. You may need to limit your diet to softer foods initially until your throat feels better.

To find out if you’re a candidate for diagnostic ERCP, request a consultation with the team at Long Island Gastro online or by calling the office today.