Advanced Endoscopy
A miniature camera inside the bile duct for direct viewing - to break difficult stones and take targeted biopsies of narrowings.
Overview
Cholangioscopy is performed during an ERCP. A very thin scope is passed through the ERCP endoscope directly into the bile duct, giving real-time, high-resolution views of the inside of the duct.
It allows the doctor to break large or difficult stones (lithotripsy) under direct vision and to take targeted biopsies of strictures that are hard to diagnose with other tests - often avoiding surgery.
Where: Hospital-based procedure, performed by Dr. Anikhindi at Apollo Hospitals. Consultation and planning at Medigest.
Advanced Endoscopy
Most bile duct stones can be removed during ERCP with balloons or baskets. Large, hard or impacted stones may not pass. With cholangioscopy, the doctor guides a laser or electrohydraulic probe directly onto the stone and breaks it into fragments that can then be cleared, often avoiding surgery.
A narrowing of the bile duct can be due to inflammation, stones or a tumour, and imaging alone often cannot tell the difference. Cholangioscopy lets the doctor look at the surface of the narrowing and take targeted biopsies, which improves the chance of a clear diagnosis.
Cholangioscopy is done during an ERCP under sedation or anaesthesia in a hospital. You may stay for observation for a few hours or overnight. Preparation is the same as for ERCP.
The procedure is performed at Apollo Hospitals. Consultation, review of MRCP, CT and EUS reports, and follow-up of biopsy results can be arranged at Medigest, West Punjabi Bagh, or online.
Cholangioscopy is usually considered after scans or an earlier ERCP have shown a problem in the bile duct. Typical situations include jaundice that keeps returning, repeated episodes of cholangitis with fever and chills, a large stone that could not be cleared at an earlier ERCP, and a narrowing of the bile duct seen on MRCP or CT where the cause is unclear. People with primary sclerosing cholangitis may also need cholangioscopy to evaluate a dominant stricture.
MRCP and CT show the shape of the bile ducts, and endoscopic ultrasound shows the duct and nearby structures in detail. Cholangioscopy is different because it lets the doctor look directly at the inside surface of the duct and act on what is seen, by breaking a stone or taking a targeted biopsy in the same procedure. It is therefore used when the other tests have raised a question that needs a direct answer.
Bring all earlier reports, especially MRCP, CT and EUS images, and a list of medicines. You will need blood tests, including a clotting profile, and an anaesthesia check. Arrange for a family member to stay with you, as you may be observed overnight.
Book a consultation or request an online consultation to discuss whether Per-oral Cholangioscopy is right for you.
Before & after
General guidance - the clinic gives you personalised instructions when you book.
On the day
The bile duct is accessed with an ERCP endoscope.
The mini-scope is passed into the duct to view it directly.
Stones are fragmented or biopsies taken under vision.
FAQ
Cholangioscopy is minimally invasive, usually needs a shorter hospital stay and avoids an abdominal incision.
No. Cholangioscopy is performed during an ERCP, using a thin scope passed through the ERCP endoscope into the bile duct.
Lithotripsy means breaking a large stone into smaller pieces. During cholangioscopy, a laser or electrohydraulic probe is aimed at the stone under direct vision so the fragments can be removed.
Biopsy results usually take a few working days. The doctor will discuss them with you at a follow-up visit or online consultation.
Book a consultation first by phone, WhatsApp or the online form. Hospital-based procedure, performed by Dr. Anikhindi at Apollo Hospitals. Consultation and planning at Medigest. The clinic will share preparation instructions.
Related
An endoscopic procedure to remove bile duct stones, relieve blockages and place stents - treating jaundice and cholangitis without open surgery.
Learn moreHospital-basedUltrasound from inside the digestive tract for close-up images of the pancreas, bile ducts and GI wall - with needle biopsy or drainage in the same sitting.
Learn moreHospital-basedMinimally invasive endoscopic treatment for early cancers, large polyps and swallowing disorders such as achalasia - without open surgery in suitable patients.
Learn moreAppointments
Visit the clinic in West Punjabi Bagh, or book an online consultation from home.
