ERCP is a specialized endoscopic technique to evaluate the bile ducts, pancreas ducts and gallbladder. Ducts are drainage routes for various organs; the drainage channels from the liver are called bile or biliary ducts while the pancreatic duct is the drainage channel from the pancreas. Different diseases such as stones, pancreatitis, cancer, surgical injuries, can cause blockages or leaks of these ducts. ERCP is the gold standard to access these ducts to remove stones, open up blockages and even diagnosis cancers.
An ERCP is a procedure that is done to allow your physician the ability to examine the bile and pancreatic ducts. A flexible, lighted tube known as an endoscope is inserted into the mouth and down the throat. This goes down into the stomach and upper part of the small intestine (duodenum). In this area, an opening (ampulla) to the bile and pancreas ducts is found. At that time, the opening can be accessed with various tools, wires, and dye to study and treat the ducts of the liver and pancreas. ERCP is the gold standard first line option for therapy of these organ systems.
ERCP is a well-tolerated procedure when performed by doctors who are specially trained and experienced in the technique. Although complications (such as inflammation of the pancreas or bleeding) requiring hospitalization can occur, they are uncommon. Dr. Kedia’s rates of complications from ERCP are fewer than the nationally recognized benchmarks.
An ERCP is typically performed to diagnose and treat specific conditions of the bile ducts, pancreas or possibly gallbladder. The most common reasons for an ERCP include yellowing of the skin, abdominal pain, or ultrasounds that show a mass or stones in the bile or pancreas ducts.
ECRP can also be used to diagnose and then remove bile duct stones. Benign and cancerous tumors are also diagnosed and treated using this procedure. Sometimes an ECRP may be used for complications from gallbladder surgery, as well.
For patients who have pancreatic disease, the ERCP can help determine whether surgery is needed and if so, what type of surgery it should be. Also, sometimes pancreatic stones are removed using ERCP.
For an ERCP, you will need to have an empty stomach, which means you should not eat or drink for a minimum of eight hours before the test is done. Your doctor may give you a more specific time frame for beginning fasting, depending on when the test is scheduled.
There may also be adjustments made to your current medications, such as blood thinners and insulin. It is a great idea to discuss this with your physician as soon as possible. You should also let them know about any allergies and if you will require any antibiotics before the procedure.
An anesthesiologist will give you IV sedative to make you completely asleep for the procedure when it happens. When you are asleep, an endoscope will be passed through your mouth into the intestines. This will not interfere with your ability to breathe. From inside the intestines, the endoscopists evaluates the bile and pancreas ducts with a combination of tools and dye. The procedure typically takes less than one hour to complete.
After the procedure, you will be monitored in the recovery area while you wake up from anesthesia. This will give you time for the sedative to wear off. You may find your throat is sore for a couple of days. You will be able to use medication and eat as usual once the procedure is complete.
Are you interested in learning more about ERCP or medical conditions requiring its use? We invite you to contact us to learn more. Dr. Prashant Kedia is a therapeutic endoscopist and gastroenterologist serving patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond. Call today to schedule an appointment at (214) 941-6891.
ERCP ni mbinu ya endoscopic ya kuchunguza mifereji ya bile, pancreas na gallbladder. Mifereji ya damu ni njia za mifereji ya damu kutoka kwa ini, na mifereji ya damu kutoka kwa ini inaitwa mifereji ya bile au mifereji ya bile, wakati mifereji ya pancreatic ni njia ya mifereji kutoka kwa kongosho. Magonjwa kama vile mawe, pancreatitis, kansa, majeraha ya upasuaji, yanaweza kusababisha kufungwa au kuvuja kwa mifereji hii. ERCP ni njia ya kawaida ya kupata mifereji hii ili kuondoa mawe, kufungua vizuizi na hata kugundua saratani. ERCP ni utaratibu unaofanywa ili kumruhusu daktari wako kuchunguza mifereji ya bile na pancreatic. Bomba lenye mwangaza linaloitwa endoscope huingizwa ndani ya mdomo na chini ya koo. Hii hupanda chini katika tumbo na sehemu ya juu ya matumbo madogo (duodenum). Katika eneo hili, ufunguzi (ampulla) wa mifereji ya bile na ya kongosho hupatikana. Wakati huo, ufunguzi huo waweza kufikiwa kwa kutumia vifaa mbalimbali, waya, na rangi ili kuchunguza na kutibu mifereji ya ini na kongosho. ERCP ni chaguo la kwanza la kiwango cha dhahabu kwa matibabu ya mifumo hii ya viungo. ERCP ni utaratibu unaovumiliwa vizuri wakati unafanywa na madaktari ambao wamefundishwa na uzoefu katika mbinu hiyo. Ingawa matatizo (kama vile uvimbe wa kongosho au kutokwa na damu) yanayohitaji kulazwa hospitalini yanaweza kutokea, hayawa ya kawaida. Viwango vya Dk Kedia vya matatizo kutokana na ERCP ni vichache kuliko viwango vinavyotambuliwa kitaifa. ERCP ni kawaida kufanyika kwa kugundua na kutibu hali maalum ya mifereji ya bile, kongosho au uwezekano gallbladder. Sababu za kawaida za ERCP ni pamoja na rangi ya manjano ya ngozi, maumivu ya tumbo, au ultrasound ambayo inaonyesha wingi au mawe katika mifereji ya bile au kongosho. ECRP pia inaweza kutumika kugundua na kisha kuondoa mawe ya njia ya bile. Ugonjwa wa kansa na ugonjwa usio na madhara pia hupatikana na kutibiwa kwa kutumia utaratibu huo. Wakati mwingine ECRP inaweza kutumika kwa matatizo ya upasuaji wa kibofu cha mkojo. Kwa wagonjwa walio na ugonjwa wa kongosho, ERCP inaweza kusaidia kuamua ikiwa upasuaji unahitajika na ikiwa ndivyo, ni aina gani ya upasuaji inapaswa kuwa. Pia, nyakati nyingine mawe ya kongosho huondolewa kwa kutumia ERCP. Kwa ERCP, unahitaji kuwa na tumbo tupu, ambayo inamaanisha haupaswi kula au kunywa kwa angalau masaa nane kabla ya mtihani kufanywa. Daktari wako anaweza kukupa muda maalum wa kuanza kufunga, kulingana na wakati mtihani umepangwa. Pia, huenda ikawa lazima ubadilishe dawa unazotumia, kama vile dawa za kupunguza damu na insulini. Ni jambo la busara kuzungumzia jambo hilo na daktari wako haraka iwezekanavyo. Pia unapaswa kuwajulisha kuhusu mzio wowote na kama utahitaji viuavijasumu kabla ya utaratibu. Anesthesiologist atakupatia dawa ya kulala ili uweze kulala kabisa wakati wa utaratibu. Unapokuwa umelala, endoscope itapitishwa kupitia mdomo wako hadi kwenye matumbo. Hii haitaingilia uwezo wako wa kupumua. Kutoka ndani ya matumbo, wataalamu wa endoscopy huchunguza mifereji ya bile na ya kongosho kwa kutumia vifaa na rangi. Kwa kawaida utaratibu huo huchukua muda usiozidi saa moja. Baada ya utaratibu huo, utafuatwa katika eneo la kupona huku ukiamka kutoka kwa anesthesia. Hii itakupa wakati wa dawa ya kutuliza kupoteza nguvu. Huenda ukapata kwamba koo lako linaumwa kwa siku chache. Utaweza kutumia dawa na kula kama kawaida mara tu utaratibu utakapokamilika. Je, una nia ya kujifunza zaidi kuhusu ERCP au hali za matibabu zinazohitaji matumizi yake? Tunakualika uwasiliane nasi ili kujifunza zaidi. Daktari Prashant Kedia ni mtaalamu wa endoscopy na gastroenterologist anayehudumia wagonjwa katika eneo la Dallas-Fort Worth na zaidi. Piga simu leo ili kupanga miadi kwenye 214-698-1