ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)

Illustration showing how a bendable, lighted tube (endoscope) is placed through your mouth and into your stomach and first part of your small intestine to examine your pancreatic and bile ducts An ERCP is a procedure that allows a doctor to look at your pancreatic and bile ducts, which drain from your pancreas, gallbladder and liver.

It's done using an endoscope (which is a camera on the end of a long thin flexible tube) and X-rays.

It can be used to remove gallstones, look for blockages and take samples of tissue for diagnosis.

HealthInfo recommends the following pages

Canterbury DHB – Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
This pamphlet explains how to prepare for an ERCP and what to expect.
Patient.info – ERCP Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
Information about ERCP including what to expect during and after the procedure.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed July 2021.

See also:

Gallbladder and gallstones

Page reference: 164970

Review key: HIERC-264970