ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) in India

ERCP combines endoscopy with X-ray imaging to examine and treat the ducts that drain the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. A flexible scope is passed through the mouth to the point where these ducts open into the small intestine, and a contrast dye is injected so blockages, stones, or narrowing show up clearly on X-ray, often treated in the same sitting.

Procedures Available

Diagnostic ERCP examines the bile and pancreatic ducts and can include a biopsy or brush cytology if cancer is suspected. Stone removal clears gallstones or pancreatic duct stones that have become lodged, often the same stones causing pain or jaundice. Stent placement widens a duct narrowed by a stricture or tumour, using a plastic or metal stent depending on the case. Sphincterotomy, a small cut to the muscle controlling duct opening, is frequently performed alongside these interventions to make stone removal or stent placement easier.

Cost

The estimate covers sedation, the procedure itself, and any intervention performed in the same sitting. A purely diagnostic ERCP sits at the lower end of the range, while stone removal, sphincterotomy, and especially metal stent placement add to the cost given the additional equipment and technique involved.

How Long the Trip Takes

Most patients plan for 3 to 4 days in India, covering pre-procedure imaging to confirm ERCP is the right next step, the procedure with a short hospital stay for monitoring, and a follow-up check before travelling home.

Choosing a Hospital

Choose a gastroenterology department with a high-volume ERCP practice specifically, since technical success and the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis, the main complication, are closely tied to operator experience. Confirm in advance whether a stent, if placed, is meant to be temporary or will need a planned follow-up procedure for removal or exchange.