Demystifying ERCP Surgery: A Comprehensive Guide
ERCP stands for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography . It is not a surgical procedure but a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic technique used in gastroenterology. ERCP combines endoscopy (a flexible tube with a light and camera) and X-ray technology to examine and treat conditions related to the bile ducts, pancreatic duct, and gallbladder. During an ERCP procedure, a gastroenterologist or interventional radiologist will: · Insert an endoscope through the mouth and into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). · Inject a contrast dye into the bile and pancreatic ducts to make them visible on X-ray. · Use X-ray imaging to diagnose and treat conditions such as gallstones, blockages, strictures, or tumors in the ducts. · If necessary, perform ther...