ERCP

An ERCP is used to examine the pancreas and bile ducts. The pancreas and bile ducts form part of the digestive system. The bile ducts carry bile, a substance that digests fat, from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. The pancreas produces substances that regulate blood sugar and help digest food. During an ERCP, a tiny camera on the end of a narrow, flexible tube (an endoscope) is passed through the mouth and into the small intestine to see the pancreas and bile ducts. Images are fed back to a computer for a consultant to analyse. An X-ray is taken at the same time to look for blockages such as tumours or gallstones. It's possible to have gallstones removed or a stent put in place to open narrow bile ducts as part of the same procedure.