HCPCS 43274

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); with placement of endoscopic stent into biliary or pancreatic duct(s)

AI EXPLANATION: ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) with stent placement is a specialized procedure used to relieve blockages in the ducts that drain the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. During the procedure, a physician passes a thin, flexible tube with a camera down the throat and into the digestive tract. Using X-ray imaging and small instruments, the physician locates narrowed or blocked passages in the bile or pancreatic ducts and places a small mesh or plastic tube, known as a stent, to hold the duct open and restore normal fluid flow.