Here’s what to expect if you’re about to undergo an ERCP exam in Saint Thomas, VI.
ERCP stands for endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. Yes, we know it’s a mouthful, but luckily this diagnostic procedure is pretty straightforward. If you are dealing with certain disorders or conditions that impact the function of the gallbladder, pancreas, or bile ducts, then our team of Saint Thomas, VI, physicians may recommend an ERCP.
Why do I need an ERCP?
This procedure is often used to diagnose and treat:
- Bile duct blockages
- Pancreatitis
- Bile duct or pancreas cancer
- Gallstones
- Inflamed gallbladder
- Pancreatic cysts
- Pseudocysts on the pancreas
How does ERCP work?
You will need to stop eating or drinking anything for about eight hours before your procedure. This procedure is performed under IV sedation. Once sedated, we will guide an endoscope into the mouth and down the throat into the esophagus. Through the endoscope, we will guide a thin tube that will inject dye into the pancreatic and bile ducts so that we can use X-ray technology to look at the health and function of the ducts.
Whether we find a narrowing of the duct or a gallstone, many issues can be treated during your ERCP. This procedure can take as little as 20-40 minutes but can take up to one hour or more, depending on what we find and what needs to be treated. Once the patient has recovered, we will discuss the results and findings with you. We will also tell you whether we need to remove gallstones, place stents to open up narrowed ducts, remove tumors, or biopsy suspicious tissue.
ERCP is a wonderful procedure not just because it allows us to diagnose and pinpoint problems within the bile ducts and pancreas, but also it makes it easy for us to correct a lot of these issues at once, so you don’t have to come back for additional treatments and procedures.
If you have questions about this simple outpatient procedure and why your doctor has recommended it, call Paragon Surgical Center at (340) 715-7874 to learn more from your Saint Thomas, VI, doctors. This procedure can help shed light on what’s going on within your digestive system so that we can provide you with the best treatment and care possible.