The pancreatobiliary department at UCLH is one of few centres in the UK to provide a patient-centred, comprehensive advanced interventional endoscopy service for diseases of the pancreas and biliary tree.   

More than 1,000 pancreatobiliary endoscopies are performed each year for patients across the region, including therapeutic ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) and endoscopic ultrasound. We are among the first centres in the world to use novel techniques like cholangioscopy and are the busiest unit in the UK for this procedure.

We take a multidisciplinary approach to the care of our patients and work closely with clinical nurse specialists to support our patients through their treatment.

What we do - information for GPs

The pancreaticobiliary unit at UCLH is one of the busiest in Europe.

In a typical year we see over 2,500 patients with pancreaticobiliary problems from around the UK and undertake over 800 ERCP and EUS cases.

Gallstone disease
  • Challenging choledocholithiasis
  • EHL (electrohydraulic lithotripsy)
Biliary strictures
  • Diagnosis and treatment with ERCP, EUS and spy-glass cholangioscopy
Acute pancreatitis
  • Diagnosis of recurrent pancreatitis
  • We admit patients from other hospitals who need specialist care for acute severe pancreatitis
Pancreatic and biliary
  • A comprehensive service to diagnose, evaluate and treat the cancer and its complications, in collaboration with our surgical and oncology colleagues
Pancreatic cysts
  • Assessment to determine the nature of cysts and whether any treatment is required
PSC and IgG4 disease
  • Diagnosis and management of autoimmune pancreatobiliary diseases, including the emerging multi-system IgG4 disease

  • ERCP
  • EUS
  • Cholangioscopy
  • EHL (electrohydraulic lithotripsy)
  • Enteral stenting (pylorus, duodenum, colon)
  • Lumen apposing metal stent insertion (LAMS) for internal drainage of pancreatic collections, infected gallbladders and for internal biliary drainage following unsuccessful ERCP
  • Pancreatic cystgastrostomy
  • Endoscopic ampullectomy
  • Percutaneous and transhepatic biliary intervention (stenting and drainage)
  • Coeliac axis nerve block
  • General anaesthetic pancreatobiliary sessions each week

Research

The pancreaticobiliary medicine service has a 30-year history of primary and translational research into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer and benign pancreatic diseases.

Current trials

UCLH is currently participating in a number of clinical trials. If you wish to find out more information or refer a patient to one of these trials, please contact us via uclh.GIMedicineEnquiries@nhs.net

Consultants

Other gastrointestinal services