Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is a specialized technique used to study the ducts or “drainage tubes” of the gallbladder, pancreas and liver.

During the procedure an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube) will be passed through your mouth, past the oesophagus and stomach into the first part of the small intestine. A small plastic tube will then be placed through the instrument and into the bile duct and/or the pancreatic duct and X-ray dye injected in order to obtain a picture of these ducts.

You should not eat of drink for at least six hours before the procedure to make sure you have an empty stomach, which is necessary for a safe examination.

 

Facts About ERCP
First Edition 2007

Contents

  • What is ERCP?
  • What preparation is required?
  • What can I expect during ERCP?
  • What are risks of ERCP?
  • What can I expect after ERCP?

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ERCP (Adobe Acrobat PDF 132KB)