ERCP

ERCP Treatment & Diagnostics in Chembur, Mumbai

ERCP

If your doctor diagnoses a liver or pancreatic ailment, he or she is likely to inform you about the ERCP procedure. Being an invasive procedure, the doctor will take your informed consent and brief you about the same. 

ERCP is a pre-surgical procedure during which doctors detect the cause of a liver or pancreatic ailment by looking at the pancreatic and bile ducts using an endoscope. They will further decide whether you need to undergo surgery or not. There are several gastroenterology hospitals in Chembur authorized to perform the procedure. You can also search for the best gastroenterologist near me.

What is ERCP?

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) makes use of an endoscope, a flexible tube, to examine the inside of your abdomen. It gets images from particularly close to the duodenum because the pancreas is in close proximity with it. 

The doctor then administers a thin pipe and dye after the endoscope is inside. Following this, structures like the bile duct and pancreatic duct show up on the X-ray. General surgeons are qualified for conducting the procedure, but ERCP has been included in the domain of gastroenterologists. 

After an ERCP, your doctor will determine the functioning of essential ducts by biliary and pancreatic tract imaging and advise surgical options if and when needed.

To know more, you can visit a general surgery hospital in Mumbai.

What are the conditions that may require ERCP?

People with unspecified unexplained pain in their abdominal region are qualified for an ERCP procedure after adequate consultation with their doctor, preferably a gastroenterologist. Any registered and qualified gastroenterologist in Chembur can help you with the procedure and ease your discomfort. 

You may not qualify for ERCP in case of:

• Blocked biliary apparatus due to prior GI (gastrointestinal) surgery
• You recently had a barium meal for radiodiagnosis
• Abnormal conditions with the esophagus making the endoscope challenging to take its course

Why do you need ERCP? What are the symptoms?

If you visit your doctor for abdominal pains or the doctor suspects any problem with the abdominal organs, he or she will ask for ERCP. ERCP helps doctors identify the cause behind abnormal blood reports, CT scans or ultrasound.

ERCP will help your doctor and you to decide whether you need surgery or not. Some common reasons for conducting an ERCP are:

• Yellowing of sclera of the eye, mucous membrane, and skin (jaundice)
• Abnormal bowel movements and light stool or dark urine
• Narrowing and blockage due to the presence of stones in ducts
• Tumor or cancerous growth in abdominal organs, especially pancreas, liver and gallbladder
• To differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous tumors
• To help examine the organs after gallbladder surgery

We advise you to undergo a detailed consultation with a gastroenterologist near you.

When do you need to see a doctor?

If you have symptoms like severe abdominal pain, vomiting, blood in stool and frequent chills, consult a doctor.

You can request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Chembur, Mumbai.

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

How can you benefit from ERCP?

The primary benefit of any treatment is to provide a person with relief from the uneasiness caused by a disease. Similarly, after ERCP, your gastroenterologist will treat the problems in the pancreatic duct or the bile duct. 

Any presence of gallstone during endoscopy can prevent you from undergoing major surgery. Your doctor will remove it then and there.

Your gastroenterologist can also place a stent or perform a sphincterotomy to ease the bowel movements. The doctor will only proceed if they witness any blockage or obstruction while inserting an endoscope.

What are the complications?

Serious complications are rare, but in some cases, there can be:

• Pancreatitis: Endoscopy followed by administration of dye can irritate the pancreatic ducts leading to inflammation. Thus, inform the doctor about any allergies to avoid contributory negligence.
• Abnormal bleeding: Unusual and uncommon, but if your doctor had placed a stent or removed a stone, it might cause bleeding due to perforation in the intestines and bile duct. 

Conclusion

The liver, gallbladder and pancreas are essential for metabolism and endocrine functions of the body in our day-to-day life.Discomfort or damage to these organs can hugely reduce efficiency, both physiologically and psychologically.

Your doctor will instruct you in terms of the preparatory stage of ERCP so that you qualify for the procedure.

• Take medications prescribed by your doctor before the procedure.
• Inform your doctor/nurse/surgeon about the allergies you face.
• Limit your food and water consumption as per your surgeon’s instruction.

References

ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography) Patient Information from SAGES - Major reference website

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Procedure - Benefits

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) - Who Qualifies for ERCP?

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in general surgery: how much are we outsourcing?

Recommended ERCP Diet - FAQs