Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Utah

We will ask you to arrive at our endoscopy office in Utah 1 – 1.5 hours before your scheduled ERCP exam. This will give you plenty of time to fill out the required patient forms and prepare yourself for the evaluation. You will be asked to change into a medical gown. An intravenous (IV) catheter will be placed in your arm to allow sedation to be given. We will also utilize equipment that will enable the physician and staff to monitor your pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing oxygen, and electrocardiogram levels throughout the course of and after the exam.

After you enter the exam room, you will then lie down on your stomach on the stretcher. The IV sedation will be administered at this point. When compared to other endoscopic assessments, it is not uncommon for general anesthesia to be administered for this exam. To ensure your safety and comfort, your specialist will administer small doses of sedation at a time. Once a sufficient sedation level is reached, the endoscope will be carefully introduced into the mouth. The scope will be carefully forwarded through the esophagus and down into the stomach and small intestine to the location where the bile and pancreatic ducts empty into the small intestine. A small portion of air is injected via the scope into the gastrointestinal system to enhance visibility. With an ERCP procedure, contrast dye is placed into the bile duct and the pancreatic duct. A radiographic (x-ray) imaging machine is utilized to capture images of the bile duct and pancreatic duct to determine if there are any abnormalities or concerns. Any fluid remaining in the upper gastrointestinal structures can be suctioned out through the scope device. Based upon what the procedure reveals, a few things can be conducted during the course of the evaluation, such as biopsies, stent placement (metal/plastic tubes) into the bile or pancreatic ducts, sphincterotomy (opening the bile or pancreatic duct), and the removal of gallstones from the bile ducts or stones from the pancreatic ducts. At the end of the procedure, as much of the air and residual fluid as possible will be removed via the scope. On average, the ERCP process takes between 30 – 90 minutes to complete based on the results.

Once the exam is complete, you will be taken to the recovery area to be monitored while the sedative effects of the medication start to fade away. The extent of sedation utilized during the ERCP exam and how you respond to it will dictate how fast you wake up; however, most individuals are awake enough for discharge within 45 – 60 minutes. You will not be able to operate any vehicles for the rest of the day and should, therefore, arrange for a ride home in advance. You will also be directed not to perform strenuous activities, sign important documents, or work for the rest of the day. In most cases, patients can eat and drink as normal after being released from the endoscopy unit, though important instructions surrounding eating, medications, and activity will be given prior to dismissal. At times, ERCP patients may need an overnight hospital stay for monitoring or evaluation.

The physician and/or support staff will go over the conclusions of your ERCP once your test procedure is finished. The majority of individuals will not recall what is discussed after the evaluation due to the effects of the sedation. Our Utah Gastroenterology staff recommends you have someone with you with whom the outcomes can also be discussed, if possible. You will also be provided with a typed report and will be advised of any test or biopsy results typically within one week.