Endoscopy has potential complications. Specialists and their assistants do everything in their power to prevent these complications, but you should understand what can happen. Details are given where the individual procedures are described in more detail. Very rarely the tip of the endoscope may go through a weakened part of the gut wall. This is called a perforation, and almost always requires surgical operation.
Some complications relate only to special types of endoscopy.
ERCP manipulation of the pancreas can cause pancreatitis. Others such as bleeding and perforation can be quite serious, resulting in long periods in hospital and operations. The chance of dying after an endoscopic procedure depends on the circumstances. Because of all these variations, it is not possible to generalize about the risks of endoscopy, so it is necessary to discuss these individually with your specialist in your particular circumstances. Top of page.