How the Test is Performed

This test is usually done in the hospital. Your throat is sprayed with a local anesthetic. A sedative and pain killer are given through a vein. A special flexible tube (endoscope) is inserted through your mouth into the duodenum (the portion of the small intestine that is closest to the stomach).

A catheter is advanced through the endoscope and inserted into the pancreatic or biliary ducts. A contrast agent is injected into these ducts and X-rays are taken to evaluate their caliber, length and course. Narrowing, stones, and tumors can be identified.

Special instruments can be placed through the scope and into the ducts to open the entry of the ducts into the bowel, stretch out narrow segments, remove or crush stones, take tissue samples, and drain obstructed areas.

How to Prepare for the Test

You will need to fast 12 hours before the test and sign a consent form. Remove all jewelry so that it will not interfere with the X-ray.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

• infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the Test will Feel

There may be some gagging as the tube is passed down the esophagus. As the scope is positioned, there will be some stretching of the stomach and duodenum. Occasionally, stretching of the ducts can be felt.

Air, used to inflate the stomach and bowel, can cause some distention. After the procedure, you may have a sore throat for 3 to 4 days. There may be some reaction to the dye.

Why the Test is Performed

The procedure identifies any abnormality of the pancreas or bile ducts that can cause abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, or malabsorption. These include:

• gallstones
• bile duct strictures
• bile duct tumors
• chronic pancreatitis
• pancreatic tumors (including pancreatic cancer)
• pancreatic strictures
• pancreatic pseudocysts

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