You will need to fast at least 4 hours before the test and sign a consent form. Remove all jewelry so that it will not interfere with the x-ray.

Because of the intravenous sedation, you may not feel any discomfort, and may have no memory of the test. There may be some gagging as the tube is passed down the esophagus. As the scope is positioned, there will be some stretching of the stomach and duodenum. Occasionally, stretching of the ducts can be felt.

Air, used to inflate the stomach and bowel, can cause some bloating or gas. After the procedure, you may have a sore throat for 3 to 4 days. Some people have a bad reaction to the dye or the drugs used to relax the duodenum, which can cause symptoms like nausea, hives, burning sensation, blurred vision, and urine retention.

The procedure is used to identify any problems of the pancreas or bile ducts that can cause abdominal pain (usually in the right upper or middle stomach area) and yellowing of the skin and eyes ( jaundice). These include:

• Bile duct strictures
• Bile duct tumors
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Gallstones
• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• Cholangitis
• Pancreatic pseudocysts
• Pancreatic strictures
• Pancreatic tumors (including pancreatic cancer)

ERCP is often performed after gallstones in the common duct are discovered during cholecystectomy.

A procedure called endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) can be done at the same time as an ERCP.

Images

Gallbladder endoscopy

ERCP

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Review Date: 07/06/2009
Reviewed By: Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Also reviewed by George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)