ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)

Whakamātaunga tirohanga whakaroto

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. These ducts drain from your pancreas, gallbladder and liver.

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

During an ERCP, a small, flexible tube (endoscope) with a tiny video camera is passed into your mouth. It then goes through your throat, food pipe (oesophagus) and stomach into your small bowel (duodenum).

Once in your small bowel, the opening to the tube (duct) from your liver and pancreas is found. X-ray dye (contrast) is gently injected through a thin, plastic tube.

X-rays are then taken to determine what needs to be treated.

An ERCP is done in hospital, but you can usually go home the same day. You do not need to have a general anaesthetic, but you will have a sedative to help you relax and reduce discomfort.

HealthInfo recommends the following pages

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 August 2024.

See also:

Gallbladder and gallstones

Page reference: 197675

Review key: HIERC-264970