ERCP
What is ERCP?
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is an endoscopic test that is used to examine and treat problems of the bile ducts, pancreatic ducts, and gallbladder. Bile ducts are the tubes that drain bile from the liver and pancreatic ducts drain pancreatic juice from the pancreas. Both ducts empty into the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine.
Figure 1. Endoscope in small intestine, facing the papilla (opening in the small intestine to the ducts) demonstrating the bile duct in green and the pancreatic duct in tan. Image courtesy of Boston Scientific Inc.
Why is ERCP Performed?
ERCP may be done for many reasons. The most common reason is to find and remove gallstones stuck in the bile duct. Other common reasons are to look for causes of acute pancreatitis (inflammation or irritation of the pancreas), to unblock the ducts when they are not able to drain because of tumor in the bile ducts or pancreas, and to treat leaking of the bile or pancreas ducts. These problems are usually first found through imaging tests which are considered safer initial tests that do not have as many risks as ERCP. Examples of initial imaging tests are ultrasound of the belly, a special kind of MRI study called MRCP, or by an ultrasound scope test called an Endoscopic Ultrasound. These can tell your doctor whether you need to have an ERCP to follow-up on abnormalities found on these non-invasive imaging tests.
How is ERCP Performed?
ERCP is performed by gastroenterologists or surgeons who are specially trained to do them. An endoscope is a long, flexible tube with a camera and a light at the tip. The test is done while you are asleep and this can be done by your doctor with the help of a doctor who specializes in putting patients to sleep and waking them up again, called an Anesthesiologist. Often medications through your veins are used to help you fall asleep, but sometimes general anesthesia is necessary. The endoscope or tube is passed through the mouth, esophagus, and stomach into the duodenum where the bile duct enters; this is known as the papilla. A small tube is passed through the scope to come out of its tip. This is used to enter the papilla and the ducts, place wires to help with treatments, and to squirt x-ray dye to see what is going on inside the ducts. This lets your doctor decide on how best to treat blockages, stones, or tumors. Your doctor can then use their equipment to help treat and improve these problems. For example, if stones are seen, the bile duct opening can be widened, and stones can be taken out of the duct. The papilla has a muscle that surrounds the bile duct opening and this can be cut using electricity through a small wire on the end of the tube. This is called a sphincterotomy, which can let the duct drain better and allow the doctor to do treatments to help problems in the ducts.
Figure 2. Image showing the tube through the scope, after the cut has been made and a wire is placed beyond a large stone in the bile duct. Image courtesy of Boston Scientific Inc. same issue with imaging rights
How do I Prepare for ERCP?
You will be required to not eat prior to your procedure, usually at least 6-8 hours before your scheduled procedure. The stomach should be empty so your doctor can see where they are going. This also helps prevent you from throwing up and sucking it down the wrong pipe into your lungs (aspiration).
You should discuss all your medicines with your doctor, as some may need to be changed or temporarily stopped for the test. This step is really important if you are taking medications to thin out your blood. These include medicines like warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox); and/or new blood thinning medications like dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), and edoxaban (Savaysa). You should also talk about medications that keep your blood platelets from causing a clot, like clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta), and prasugrel (Effient). You should also ask what you should do with your insulin, or other medicines for diabetes. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common medications used to treat arthritis, pain, or inflammation; and include ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac, to name a few. These medications do not need to be stopped and you can also continue aspirin if you are taking it. You should let your doctor know of any medication allergies, including those to iodine or intravenous (IV) contrast dye.
Is it important to tell your doctor if you have obstructive sleep apnea, other lung conditions or heart conditions prior to your procedure?
If you wear CPAP at night, you should discuss with your doctor whether you should bring your machine with you on the day of your procedure.
If you have chronic bronchitis or emphysema, this may change how you are put to sleep for the procedure and you should let your doctor know about this.
If you have any heart conditions, you should also discuss these with your doctor, as special testing prior to your procedure may be needed.
You will not be able to drive after getting the sleeping medication and will need an adult family member or friend come with you on the day of your procedure.
They will need to be able to drive you home or be with you if you are taking medical or public transportation.
What are the Possible Complications of ERCP?
While ERCP is generally safe and most people do well, there are risks of having one. Your physician should discuss the potential risks with you prior to your procedure.
- Bleeding may happen and is more common if the bile duct opening is widened by cutting. The bleeding is usually small and stops on its own. Sometimes patients can vomit blood or blood can pass through their stool as a sign of bleeding. (not sure if this would scare the reader but explaining symptoms may be helpful) If it happens during the ERCP, it can be treated during the procedure. This can be done with small metal clips, injection of epinephrine medicine (which constricts blood vessels), or by burning the bleeding area with electricity.
- Infection of the bile ducts (cholangitis) can occur, especially if the bile ducts are not draining well. Fevers and abdominal pain may be a sign of infection. Antibiotics during the procedure and for a few days following ERCP are needed for some patients.
- Pancreatitis (inflammation or irritation of the pancreas) occurs in 3% to 7% of all patients who have an ERCP. This will cause really bad stomach pain in the top of your belly going through to your back. This pain that does not get better by belching or passing gas. While most ERCP related pancreatitis is mild, it can rarely be very bad or even life threatening. You may have to stay in the hospital for to treat this.
- Perforation (a tear or hole) of the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, or ducts may happen. Worsening abdominal pain may be a sign of this. If this is small, it may heal on its own with closely watching you in the hospital. If it is big, then it may need endoscopy or surgery to fix it, which may cause more problems.
- Aspiration (stomach contents going into your lungs) may occur when food from the stomach refluxes into the back of the throat and is sucked down into the lungs. This can cause trouble breathing or a lung infection called pneumonia. This risk is small if patients do not eat for several hours prior to the procedure.
- Bad Reaction to the sleeping medicines or anesthesia. This could include rash, nausea, vomiting, or more severe reactions to medications. A review of prior allergies or side effects will be done prior to giving you any new medications.
When Should I Call My Doctor?
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after your ERCP:
- Fever or chills
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- A crunching sensation underneath the skin
- Severe abdominal bloating with firmness and tenderness
- Bleeding (red, maroon or black stool, or vomiting blood)
If biopsies were taken during your test, you should follow-up as instructed by your physician to discuss the results.
Author(s) and Publication Date(s)
Oleh Haluszka, MD, and Jennifer L. Maranki, MD, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA – Published January 2012.
Updated by Royce Groce, MD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 2020.