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ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography patient information risks indications ASGE
ERCP stands for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
It is an endoscopic X-ray procedure used mainly to treat blockage or disease of the bile ducts or pancreatic duct. A flexible camera is passed through the mouth into the duodenum; contrast is injected through the papilla, then X-rays guide treatment.
Common uses
- Remove a common bile duct stone
- Relieve jaundice from a blocked bile duct
- Insert a stent for a benign or cancer-related narrowing
- Treat bile leaks
- Obtain brushings/biopsy from a suspicious duct stricture
- Manage selected pancreatic-duct problems
ERCP is now generally therapeutic rather than purely diagnostic. MRCP or EUS may be used first to diagnose stones or obstruction without the procedural risks. ERCP can achieve biliary decompression, stone extraction, or stent placement in many cases. Yamada's Textbook of Gastroenterology, 7th ed.
Risks
- Pancreatitis, the most frequent complication
- Bleeding, especially after sphincterotomy
- Infection/cholangitis
- Perforation
- Sedation-related breathing or heart problems
The NIDDK ERCP overview estimates overall complications in roughly 5% to 10% of procedures. Seek urgent care after ERCP for severe or worsening abdominal pain, fever, persistent vomiting, black stools, or breathing difficulty.
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