Surgery·Surgery
ERCP overview
Informed by recognized medical guidance
Overview
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) is a medical procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to look at the bile ducts (tubes that carry bile from the liver) and the pancreas. It can also treat blockages, such as removing gallstones or placing a small tube called a stent to keep ducts open.
Key facts
- ERCP is both a diagnostic test and a treatment procedure — it can find and fix problems in one session.
- It is done under sedation, so you will be relaxed and feel little or no pain.
- It is performed by a specially trained doctor called a gastroenterologist or a surgeon.
ERCP is a fairly common procedure, especially for people with bile duct blockages or certain pancreatic conditions.
It is used in adults and sometimes children who have problems with their bile ducts or pancreas, such as gallstones, narrowing of the ducts, or pancreatitis.