ERCP: The Questions Patients Actually Ask — Answered by Physicians
ERCP generates some of the most repetitive phone calls in any gastroenterology practice: fasting rules, pancreatitis worries, and when to call about post-procedure pain. PrepQ, a patient-education platform built by physicians and operated by PrepQ LLC, maintains 44 physician-written answers about ercp as part of a library of more than 7,500 answers covering 700-plus procedures across 14 specialties. Practices that subscribe to PrepQ give their patients a dedicated phone number to text or call at any hour, and the platform replies instantly with content the practice's own clinicians have reviewed and approved in advance. Questions outside the approved library are referred back to the office, and any message that suggests urgent symptoms is directed to 911 or the practice instead of being answered by software. The result: patients arrive prepared, day-of cancellations drop, and staff stop repeating the same ercp instructions dozens of times a week.
Real ercp questions from our physician-reviewed library
A sample of the 44 ercp answers in PrepQ's library. Before any practice goes live, its own clinicians review and approve every answer — and can customize each one to their protocols.
After having an ERCP for gallstones, do I still need my gallbladder removed afterward?
Often yes. ERCP can clear a stone from the bile duct, but it doesn't remove your gallbladder or the stones inside it, so if gallstones caused the problem, surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually recommended afterward to prevent further attacks. The timing varies. Your surgeon and gastroenterologist will discuss whether and when gallbladder removal is right for you.
After the ERCP I had severe pain and was being sick — how do I know if it's just gas or actually pancreatitis?
Please get this checked now rather than assuming it's just gas. Severe belly pain with vomiting after an ERCP can be a sign of pancreatitis, the most common significant complication, and it needs prompt medical attention. Contact your care team right away, and if the pain is severe or you feel very unwell, emergency care may be needed. It's much safer to be evaluated.
After this horror show with the ERCP, I'm seriously worried — is it even worth having the procedure done?
It's completely understandable to feel anxious, and these are good questions to bring to your doctor. ERCP is recommended when the benefit, such as clearing a blockage that could otherwise cause serious infection or harm, outweighs its risks. Your team can explain why it's advised for you, what they do to keep it safe, and any alternatives, so you can make the decision feeling informed.
Can I ask for general anaesthetic so I'm knocked out instead of just sedated?
Yes, you can ask. General anesthesia is commonly used for ERCP, especially for longer or more complex cases or based on your health and preferences, and many centers use it routinely. Bring this up with your endoscopy and anesthesia team ahead of time. They'll consider your medical history and the planned procedure and explain what sedation or anesthesia they recommend for you.
Can I have a sip of water to take my morning tablets before the procedure?
Usually yes, a small sip of water to take essential morning tablets is allowed, but you should confirm this with your team and check which specific medicines they want you to take or hold that day. Some drugs, like certain diabetes or blood-thinning medicines, have special instructions. When in doubt, call your endoscopy unit before the procedure rather than guessing.
Do I have to stop my aspirin or ibuprofen before the ERCP, or are those okay to keep taking?
Aspirin is usually safe to keep taking through an ERCP, so it's often not stopped. Ibuprofen and similar anti-inflammatory pain relievers are sometimes paused beforehand, and your team will advise. Because individual situations differ, don't change anything on your own, confirm with your prescribing doctor or the endoscopy team which to continue and which to hold before the procedure.
Do I really need someone to drive me home, and can I take a taxi or public transport instead?
Yes, you really do need a responsible adult to take you home, and a taxi or public transport on your own isn't enough. The sedation affects your judgment, coordination, and memory for the rest of the day, so you shouldn't travel alone or be unsupervised. Most centers require someone to accompany you. If arranging this is hard, talk with your team, they can suggest options.
Does it hurt to have the stent removed, and will I be sedated again for that?
Removing a bile duct stent is usually quick and much simpler than the original ERCP. It's done with a scope, and you'll typically have sedation again so you're comfortable and likely won't remember it. Most people have little or no pain afterward, perhaps a mildly sore throat. Your team will explain the plan, and you'll again need someone to take you home after sedation.
How do I know if my stent has become blocked or moved — what symptoms should I watch for?
Watch for the return of symptoms the stent was meant to relieve plus signs of infection: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, itching, fever or chills, and pain in the upper right belly. A blocked or moved stent can cause cholangitis, which is serious. If these symptoms appear, contact your team promptly or emergency care may be needed, don't wait.
How likely is it that I'll get pancreatitis after my ERCP, and how bad does it usually get?
Pancreatitis is the most common significant complication of ERCP, but it happens in only a minority of people, and when it does occur it's usually mild and settles with a short hospital stay for fluids, rest, and pain control. Severe cases are uncommon. Your team takes specific preventive steps and will watch you closely for any belly pain or nausea afterward.
Your staff answers these 44 questions by phone. PrepQ answers them by text, instantly.
PrepQ gives your gastroenterology practice a dedicated number patients text or call 24/7. Physician-written answers, approved by your doctors, delivered in English and Spanish — with urgent messages escalated to your office or 911, never improvised. HIPAA-compliant, BAA provided, no EHR integration required.