Getty Images / Frank and Helena
What Is ERCP?
Surgical tools are placed through the endoscope as needed.
You might need to postpone your ERCP if you have an infection that could be exacerbated by this procedure.
Getty Images / Frank and Helena
When perforation occurs, a surgeon is typically consulted to urgently repair the damage.
Blood test results like an elevatedbilirubin levelorliver enzymespoint to possible bile duct obstruction.
This procedure can’t treat infections or relieve bile duct inflammation, however.
When being done for a chronic condition, an ERCP may be planned days or weeks in advance.
This can include other therapies besides your ERCP, such as antibiotics for an infection or chemotherapy for cancer.
Location
You will have your ERCP in a procedural suite that is used for gastrointestinal procedures.
This may be located in a hospital or an outpatient surgical center.
What to Wear
you’re able to wear comfortable clothes and shoes to your procedure appointment.
You will need to change into a hospital a gown for your ERCP.
You might also be asked to bring your procedure order form to your appointment.
Pre-Op Lifestyle Changes
You might need to make changes in your diet prior to having an ERCP.
Your healthcare provider might also advise you to cut back on cigarettes if you smoke.
You might then go to a pre-operative waiting area or directly to the procedure room.
You will have ananesthesiologistor a nurse anesthetist monitoring your vital signs and administering your anesthesia.
You might have a CBC and blood chemistry checked again on the day of your ERCP.
You will most likely have IV anesthesia sedation, also described asmonitored anesthesia care.
You will be very sleepy and might fall asleep.
A dye will be injected so your healthcare provider can visualize these structures.
After your biliary obstruction is diagnosed and/or treated, the endoscope will be removed.
Your sedation medication will be stopped.
You will be taken to a post-operative area with your IV in place for continued monitoring.
Your medical team will monitor your vital signs and ask you about pain or discomfort.
You might receive pain medications at this point, but you will not have sedation again.
You might be able to go home a few hours after your procedure.
This may have been determined in advance of your procedure or only after reviewing the findings.
Still, take it easy for the rest of the day after your ERCP.
It should take between a few hours to a few days to heal after an ERCP.
Complications of an ERCP may require medical or surgical intervention and could involve a prolonged recovery.
You might have dark stools or blood-tinged stool if you have had an incision as part of your procedure.
This should improveand should not worsenover time.
Each condition that warrants an ERCP varies, with some requiring more extensive long-term care than others.
Additionally, biliary duct obstruction can recur after treatment.
There is about a 20% chance of recurrence of gallstones after an ERCP.
Your ERCP will require that you dedicate about a day to the procedure and recovery.
You may experience substantial relief as a result of this intervention.
This treats a condition called sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, and it also helps with stenting and gallstone extraction.
Yes, an ERCP can be used to test for cholangitis (bile duct inflammation).
The endoscope creates X-ray images so that a healthcare provider can see the bile and pancreatic ducts.
This helps them spot abnormalities in these ducts.
In some cases, these risks will prevent some people from being eligible for stenting.
Biliary stents are capable of causing a perforation, pancreatitis, and cholecystitis.
An ERCP can remove gallstones by inserting small tools into the endoscope.
A stent can also be inserted through the endoscope to open up narrowed ducts.
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