MedStar Georgetown's GI Department offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment procedures for patients with all types of pancreatic and biliary diseases. These procedures include:
- ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) is a highly specialized technique that uses an endoscope combined with contrast dye to study the pancreas, liver, gallbladder and the network of ducts. Because some of these opening are very small and difficult to reach, ERCP requires an experienced endoscopist. During ERCP, your physician may confirm a diagnosis and immediately begin treatment. Our doctors perform nearly 1,000 of these procedures a year. To learn more visit Endoscopic Treatments.
- Sphincter of Oddi manometry, performed during an ERCP to measure the squeeze pressure of this sphincter, which connects the pancreas and bile duct to the small intestine.
- Per oral Cholangioscopy, a small scope is passed via an ERCP scope to examine the bile duct and pancreatic duct and delivers treatments such as stone destruction, under endoscopic control.
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) to evaluate for small tumors and other disorders in the pancreas and bile ducts.
- Electrohydraulic lithotripsy is a nonsurgical method for treating gallstones in the bile duct that uses shock waves to break the stones into small fragments that can be passed through the intestine.
