Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
ERCP helps your doctor treat the tiny causes of big digestive system problems
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that uses a specialized endoscope and X-rays to diagnose and treat diseases of the bile ducts and pancreas.
Our specialists at IU Health University Hospital perform more ERCP procedures than any other single center in North America.
We are known worldwide for performing complex ERCP procedures and for participating in significant research studies that have shaped the treatment of pancreatic and bile duct diseases. Our specialists have trained gastroenterologists in ERCP who have become leaders in this field throughout the United States and around the globe.
When you undergo an ERCP, you’ll be sedated with anesthesia for a 30- to 90-minute procedure. This is not surgery. An endoscope is guided down your throat, into your esophagus, through your stomach and positioned in the small intestine where the bile ducts and pancreas drain.
Your doctor can use the endoscope, X-ray and a variety of tools to perform a biopsy, study any abnormalities that were seen on other imaging tests and deliver treatment to the affected area as necessary.
Oftentimes, this is performed as an outpatient procedure, and you will go home after a short observation period after the procedure. If you have to travel from afar, we often recommend that you stay in a local hotel for the first night after the procedure.
Watch: What to Expect with ERCP
What to Expect with ERCP
When you undergo an ERCP, you’ll be sedated with anesthesia for a 30- to 90-minute procedure. This is not surgery. An endoscope is guided down your throat, into your esophagus, through your stomach and positioned in the small intestine where the bile ducts and pancreas drain.
Your doctor can use the endoscope, X-ray and a variety of tools to perform a biopsy, study any abnormalities that were seen on other imaging tests and deliver treatment to the affected area as necessary.
Oftentimes, this is performed as an outpatient procedure, and you will go home after a short observation period after the procedure. If you have to travel from afar, we often recommend that you stay in a local hotel for the first night after the procedure.
Watch: What to Expect with ERCP
Your doctor will go over specific details as you prepare for ERCP. Generally, you should not eat or drink after midnight or for the eight hours before your procedure.
Your doctor will tell you to avoid medications that could interfere with the ERCP.
Make sure your provider is aware of any of the following:
- Allergies you have (especially to iodine or shellfish)
- Any mechanical devices, such as a defibrillator
- If you are or may be pregnant
- If you have an underlying health problem, such as diabetes, bleeding problems or heart, lung or kidney problems
Preparing for ERCP
Your doctor will go over specific details as you prepare for ERCP. Generally, you should not eat or drink after midnight or for the eight hours before your procedure.
Your doctor will tell you to avoid medications that could interfere with the ERCP.
Make sure your provider is aware of any of the following:
- Allergies you have (especially to iodine or shellfish)
- Any mechanical devices, such as a defibrillator
- If you are or may be pregnant
- If you have an underlying health problem, such as diabetes, bleeding problems or heart, lung or kidney problems
You may experience abdominal discomfort, bloating or gas in the first few hours after ERCP. If you had a complex treatment or adverse events from the ERCP, you may need to be admitted to the hospital overnight for observation.
If the ERCP was straightforward, you may go home when your care provider clears you. You won’t be allowed to drive yourself home due to the sedation you received, so plan to have a friend or family member drive you. At home, rest and follow your discharge instructions.
Watch for signs of complications, and contact your doctor if you notice abdominal pain, dizziness, fever, nausea, skin or eye yellowing, chills, vomiting, black-colored stools or rectal bleeding.
After ERCP
You may experience abdominal discomfort, bloating or gas in the first few hours after ERCP. If you had a complex treatment or adverse events from the ERCP, you may need to be admitted to the hospital overnight for observation.
If the ERCP was straightforward, you may go home when your care provider clears you. You won’t be allowed to drive yourself home due to the sedation you received, so plan to have a friend or family member drive you. At home, rest and follow your discharge instructions.
Watch for signs of complications, and contact your doctor if you notice abdominal pain, dizziness, fever, nausea, skin or eye yellowing, chills, vomiting, black-colored stools or rectal bleeding.
- How will you use ERCP to treat me?
- How long will the procedure last?
- What side effects might I experience?
- Will I need any follow-up treatment?
Questions to Ask Your Provider About ERCP
- How will you use ERCP to treat me?
- How long will the procedure last?
- What side effects might I experience?
- Will I need any follow-up treatment?
Frequently Asked Questions about ERCP
How long does an ERCP take?
An ERCP can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes. This time varies based on what your provider finds during the procedure.
How is an ERCP performed?
An ERCP uses both endoscopy (a flexible camera-tube) and X-ray imaging to view inside your body. After you are sedated, the doctor passes the tube through your mouth, down your throat and stomach and into your small intestine. Once your doctor brings the scope to the area they want to observe, they inject dye into the area. An X-ray will show your doctor what’s happening in this area. Your doctor may remove a blockage, take a biopsy (tissue sample), stretch a narrowing, or stent a blockage with various tools inside your ducts.
What foods should I avoid after an ERCP?
Your doctor may recommend a clear liquid diet for 12 to 24 hours after the procedure. After that, your doctor might suggest avoiding high-fat, fried foods and continuing a low-fat diet for a week. This is to prevent upsetting the organs involved in the ERCP.