Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
A procedure that uses an endoscope to examine and x-ray the , duct, , duodenal , and .
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About ERCP
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a procedure that combines upper gastrointestinal (GI) and x rays to treat problems of the and . ERCP is also used to diagnose problems, but the availability of non-invasive tests such as magnetic resonance cholangiography has allowed ERCP to be used primarily for cases in which it is expected that will be delivered during the procedure; see
What is upper gastrointestinal (GI) ?
is a procedure that uses a lighted, flexible endoscope to see and perform procedures inside the . The upper GI tract includes the , , and – the first part of the .
What are the and ?
are tubelike structures in the body that carry fluids. The bile ducts carry bile, a liquid the makes to help break down food. A group of small bile ducts – called the – in the liver empties bile into the larger . Between meals, the common bile duct closes and bile collects in the – a pear-shaped next to the liver.
The carry pancreatic juice, a liquid the makes to help break down food. A group of small pancreatic ducts in the pancreas empties into the main .
The and the main join before emptying their contents into the through the papillary orifice at the end of the duodenal – a small, nipplelike structure that extends into the duodenum.
When is ERCP used?
ERCP is used when it is suspected a person’s or may be narrowed or blocked due to
gallstones that form in the and become stuck in the due to or illness, such as – of the valves in the , called , that won’t open properly scarring of the , called sclerosis pseudocysts—accumulations of fluid and debris …