Bile Duct Diseases

Various conditions can cause an obstruction of the bile ducts (benign narrowing, scarring, cancer, gallstones, …), leading to symptoms such as jaundice, itching, infections and pain. After imaging assessment, some situations require an endoscopic procedure to treat the biliary obstruction.

In this way, these procedures can be performed in a minimally invasive manner under radiological guidance by passing an endoscope through the mouth (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography – ERCP) in order to extract stones, place one or more biliary prostheses (stents), and take tissue samples. In some cases, it is necessary to use a miniature camera to access the bile ducts to directly evaluate or treat these diseases on site (cholangioscopy). After trauma or surgery, a bile duct leak may occur. Similarly, ERCP can be used to resolve these complications without the need for further surgery.

If you experience any of the following symptoms (yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, itching, abdominal pain, fever), please consult your doctor. After blood tests and imaging (abdominal ultrasound or abdominal CT scan), a suspicion of bile duct disease may be identified. In some cases, an abdominal MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) will be necessary for the diagnosis. In all these situations, a consultation with a specialist should be requested, or even a visit to the emergency department, which may be followed by hospitalization.

Within the Endoscopy Clinic, all the techniques required to treat bile duct diseases are available in the hands of the gastroenterology team (endoscopic and percutaneous retrograde cholangiography, biliary drainage guided by endoscopic ultrasound), allowing patients to be treated within a short time. Furthermore, the multidisciplinary approach, enabling discussion of the ideal treatment for each patient with various specialists (radiologist, pathologist, oncologist, surgeon, …), is a major asset of our clinic.

Erasmus Hospital has been a pioneer in the endoscopic treatment of bile duct diseases since the 1970s, when many innovations were developed under the leadership of Prof. Cremer and later Prof. Devière. This well-established expertise continues today, together with numerous related innovations, as evidenced by the department’s many scientific publications.