ERCP with Stone Extraction / Stenting
Advanced endoscopic procedure to remove stones lodged in the bile duct and place stents when needed — performed through the mouth without any cuts, often before laparoscopic gallbladder surgery.
What is ERCP with Stone Extraction / Stenting?
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) is an advanced endoscopic technique used to diagnose and treat problems of the bile duct and pancreatic duct. A flexible endoscope is passed through the mouth and stomach into the upper small intestine, where the bile duct is accessed, stones are removed using specialised tools, and stents are placed if needed to relieve blockage or jaundice. Dr. Tejasree Vengala coordinates ERCP with the gastroenterology team at Lux Hospitals, Hyderabad, often as a planned step before laparoscopic gallbladder surgery in patients with bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis) or obstructive jaundice.
How the Procedure Works
Sedation & Preparation
The procedure is performed under sedation or short anaesthesia. The patient lies in a comfortable position, and a mouthguard is placed.
Endoscope Insertion
A flexible side-viewing endoscope is gently passed through the mouth and stomach into the duodenum, where the opening of the bile duct is identified.
Bile Duct Cannulation & Imaging
A fine catheter is passed into the bile duct, dye is injected, and X-ray imaging maps the anatomy and identifies stones or strictures.
Stone Removal & Stenting
Stones are removed using a balloon or basket. If a stricture or persistent blockage is present, a plastic or metal stent is placed to ensure free bile flow.
Recovery & Next Step
Patients are observed for a few hours and usually discharged within 24–48 hours. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is then planned as the next step when indicated.
Outcomes
Who Needs This Treatment?
- →No external cuts — performed entirely through the mouth
- →Immediate relief from bile duct obstruction and jaundice
- →Effective removal of stones lodged in the common bile duct
- →Allows safe planning of subsequent gallbladder surgery
- →Diagnostic and therapeutic in a single sitting
- →Useful for biliary strictures, leaks, and palliative stenting
ERCP and laparoscopic cholecystectomy are two halves of the same picture in patients with bile duct stones. Sequencing them carefully — clearing the duct first, then removing the gallbladder — gives a smooth, safe path to a complete cure.
— — Dr. Tejasree Vengala, Consultant Proctologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Lux Hospitals, Hyderabad
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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