SpyGlass cholangioscopy
Also called Cholangioscopy, Direct visualisation of bile ducts
SpyGlass cholangioscopy passes an ultra-thin camera through an ERCP scope directly into the bile duct. It lets Dr. Anil Kumar Mannava see inside the duct, break up large or impacted stones with laser or electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and take targeted biopsies of unexplained narrowings.
At a glance
- Done with
- ERCP
- Sedation
- Deep sedation
What it involves
It is used when standard ERCP cannot clear a stone or when a narrowing needs a direct look to tell whether it is benign or cancerous.
Your consultation and follow-up are at the clinic. This procedure needs specialised equipment, so the clinic will tell you where it is scheduled when you book.
When it is recommended
- Large or impacted bile duct stones
- Unexplained bile duct strictures
Questions patients ask
When is SpyGlass needed instead of standard ERCP?
When stones are too large or stuck for standard tools, or when a narrowing needs to be seen and sampled directly.
Related care
- Gallstones and bile duct stonesStones in the gallbladder or bile duct causing pain, jaundice or pancreatitis.
- JaundiceYellow eyes and skin, a sign of a liver or bile duct problem that needs prompt assessment.
- ERCPEndoscopic treatment of the bile and pancreatic ducts: stone removal, stenting and sampling.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)High-detail ultrasound from inside the gut to examine the pancreas, bile ducts and nearby organs, with biopsy.
Ask about SpyGlass cholangioscopy
Book a consultation to find out whether this procedure is right for you.