Last Updated on April 2, 2025 by Analgesia team
ERCP procedure
What it does
ERCP is a procedure that uses an endoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube, to examine the bile and pancreatic ducts. It combines X-rays and a camera to provide images of these ducts. A dye may be injected through the scope to highlight the organs on an X-ray.
What is it used for
ERCP can be used to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. It can help find the cause of unexplained abdominal pain or yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). It can also be used to evaluate stones, tumors, or narrowed areas of the ducts.
How it’s performed
An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that involves passing a camera-equipped tube through the mouth and into the small intestine. This allows a doctor to examine the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas.
ERCP step-by-step procedure
-
- A local anesthetic is sprayed into the throat to numb it
- A sedative is given to help you relax
- The endoscope is passed through the mouth and throat and into the duodenum
- A dye is injected into the bile and pancreatic ducts
- X-rays are taken to confirm the position of the endoscope and dy
Advantages of ERCP
- Combines diagnosis and treatment in a single procedure.
- Minimally invasive compared to surgery.