Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Baton Rouge, LA

We will ask you to arrive for your ERCP about 1 – 1.5 hours before your exam. This will allow adequate time to fill out patient forms and prepare for the assessment. You will be asked to change into a medical gown. An intravenous (IV) catheter will be started in your arm to give sedation. Special equipment will also be used to will allow our staff to monitor your breathing, oxygen, pulse, blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram levels during and after the test.

When you enter the exam room, we will have you lie on your stomach on the table. The IV sedation will be started. Small amounts are provided at a time to ensure that you do not have an adverse reaction to the sedation medication and so we administer only the dosage you require. Compared with other endoscopic procedures, it is not uncommon for general anesthesia to be used for an ERCP. The endoscope will be inserted into the mouth when the appropriate sedation level is reached. The device will be gently forwarded through the esophagus and down into the stomach and small intestine to the area where the bile duct and pancreatic duct open into the small intestine. A small amount of air is administered via the scope into the gastrointestinal (GI) system to increase your provider's visibility. A radiographic contrast dye is placed into the bile and pancreatic ducts and an x-ray machine is utilized to take images of these structures to determine if there are any concerns or irregularities. Any fluid remaining in the upper GI tract can be removed by way of the scope device. Depending on the findings of the exam, a few things may be carried out during the course of the procedure, 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. When the ERCP is complete, as much of the air and remaining fluid as possible will be suctioned out via the endoscope. Each assessment takes around 30 – 90 minutes to complete based on your provider's findings.

Once the evaluation has concluded, you will be moved to the post-treatment area to be assessed while the sedation medication begins to fade away. The portion of sedation given during the exam and how your body responds to it will determine how quickly you awaken; however, most individuals are alert enough for dismissal within 45 – 60 minutes. You cannot operate any vehicles for the rest of the day so you will need to plan to have a friend or relative take you home. You will also be directed not to work, perform strenuous activities, or sign important papers for the day. In most cases, patients can eat and drink as usual after being released from the endoscopy unit, although certain instructions regarding eating, activity, and medications will be provided before dismissal. In some cases, ERCP patients may be admitted for an overnight hospital stay for evaluation.

When the ERCP is complete, your provider will review the test results with you. Generally, individuals do not remember what is discussed after the ERCP exam because of sedative effects. Our Gastroenterology Associates team recommends you bring someone with you to whom the exam findings can also be explained. You will also be given a typed synopsis and should be given any biopsy or other test results within one week.