ERCP:
Complex and Advanced

For bile and pancreatic duct, ERCP is used to find & treat the issue. If you have pancreas, liver, or bile duct issues, then ERCP is performed. ERCP tells the reason for abnormal results from the:

• CT scan
• Blood test
• Ultrasound

The issues may be fixed which are identified through these tests. Through ERCP, the doctor can decide the need for surgery and which is best for your condition. Some of the prominent reasons for which it is performed are:

• Presence of stone in the pancreas or bile duct
• Eyes or skin get yellow. The stool or urine becomes dark
• The liver, gallbladder, or pancreas contain a lesion

The doctor might do ERCP after or before gallbladder in certain conditions. Moreover, the procedure even tells if the lesions are cancerous and non-cancerous. After the gallbladder surgical procedure, it helps to find & treat the issue.

Some of the common instructions which need to be followed are:

• Make sure that you stop drinking and eating as the doctor tells you.
• On the day of surgery, you need to take certain medications as suggested by the doctor.
• Stop the intake of supplements, medications, and blood thinners.

• Administer Local Anesthesia: On your throat, the doctor will spray the local anesthesia. Your throat will get numb and you will not get choked. This way you feel comfortable throughout the treatment.
• Endoscope Insertion: While the endoscope is inserted, you need to lie down on the table and the X-ray is taken. In your mouth, the endoscope is inserted. Your breathing is not affected by the endoscope and you will be asleep during the procedure.
  In total, the ERCP will last for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The procedure might take more or less time depending on what the doctor needs.

Following the ERCP, you will stay in the procedure area for 1 to 2 hours. Make sure that you have someone along with you and they should drive you back home. After that, you need to relax the entire day at home. You can eat the normal diet and take the medications following the treatment. You must keep the doctor’s advice in mind. If there is a need for you to spend the night in the hospital, then the doctor will suggest you do the same.

When the procedure needs to be done, the doctor will tell you about the results. It takes some days to get the results and the doctor will do the biopsy. You should talk to the doctor about how you can get the biopsy results.