ERCP Examination

THE EXAMINATION IS PERFORMED WITH THE HELP OF A FLEXIBLE DEVICE (ENDOSCOPE) THAT IS INSERTED ORALLY INTO THE DUODENUM AND REACHES THE OPENING OF THE BILE DUCT AND PANCREAS. THROUGH THE ENDOSCOPE CANAL, A PLASTIC TUBE IS INSERTED INTO THE OPENING OF THE PAPILLA AND THROUGH IT A CONTRAST AGENT IS INJECTED ON THE BASIS OF IODINE, WHICH ALLOWS (UNDER X-RAY REFLECTION) TO DEMONSTRATE THE BILE DUCTS AND PANCREAS. WITH THE HELP OF ERCP, IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO PERFORM THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES SUCH AS REMOVING STONES FROM THE BILIARY TRACT AND PANCREAS, DILATING THE NARROWING (BLOCKAGE) AND TAKING TISSUE SAMPLES (IN CASE OF SUSPECTED CANCER OR PRECANCEROUS CONDITION) AND INSERTING A STENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DRAINING THE BILE AND PANCREAS AND KEEPING THEM OPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A BLOCKAGE.

• THE ERCP TEST IS A TEST THAT TAKES AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 40 MINUTES.
• The examination is performed under sedation or anesthesia, which is administered intravenously before the examination.
• After receiving the sedation, a "tooth holder" will be inserted into your mouth, the purpose of which is to keep your mouth open throughout the examination.
• The test is performed lying on the left side or on the abdomen. During the test, monitoring devices will be attached to your body to check your heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory activity.
• During the examination, the doctor inserts the device orally and places it in the area of the papilla, which is an opening of the biliary tract and pancreas into the small intestine. Through the papilla it is possible to enter the bile ducts or pancreas for treatment, for example cleaning stones, taking a biopsy from a lump or opening a blockage.
• In some cases, the patient will receive prophylactic antibiotics at the time of the operation for the purpose of preventing infection.

• Continue taking regular medications for high blood pressure and heart disease on the morning of the test. Detailed instructions should be obtained on how to supply blood-thinning drugs such as Fluix, Warfarin, etc.
• For diabetics – it is forbidden to inject insulin or take another medicine on the morning of the test.
• IF YOU ARE USING CPAP/BPAP RESPIRATORY SUPPORT DEVICES DUE TO NOCTURNAL APNEA OR OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, YOU SHOULD BRING THE DEVICE FOR GASTROSCOPY.
• If you have asthma, it is recommended to take a dose of the inhaler two hours before the start of the test.
• If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, a visit to the pacemaker clinic is required about two weeks before the gastroscopy is performed. It is necessary to come to the gastroscopy examination with a summary of a visit to the pacemakers' clinic.