My mom was admitted to ER with a total bilirubin level of 3.6 and after a couple of pre-tests such as MRCP, she was set up for an ERCP. The MRCP showed multiple dilated bile ducts in left lobe of liver and mildly dilated bile ducts in the right lobe of liver. The ERCP was for biliary obstruction. The findings were a stricture at bifurcation of the common hepatic duct with dilation of right and left intrahepatic ductal system. The biopsy did not give a diagnosis and stents were placed. After this procedure there was mild pancreatis and bilirubin shot up very high up to 15!! She has to prolong the hospital stay and have a second ERCP which was more in depth. The second ERCP gave diagnosis of Klatskin.
Was the first ERCP in error for making the bilirubin go very high from the time she was admitted? She didn't have such a high bilirubin before procedure and it had to be redone, basically caused more harm than good. Does the procedure have a chance of making an obstruction worse? How do you know this?
Thank you!