We provide a private SpyGlass cholangioscopy service. The advanced SpyGlass cholangioscopy system enables your specialist to diagnose and manage bile duct disease safely and accurately.
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SpyGlass cholangioscopy
Also known as: SpyGlass single-operator cholangioscopy system (SOC)
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What is it for?
Procedure to investigate and diagnose bile duct disease
On this page
Overview
The SpyGlass single-operator cholangioscopy system (SOC) allows your gastroenterologist to diagnose and successfully treat bile duct disease with a 83-93% success rate.
Bile duct disease can take the form of narrowing or blockage of the tubes that take bile and pancreatic juices to the intestine.
SpyGlass cholangioscopy is a new, state-of-the-art endoscopy procedure that can:
- Safely break up and remove large gallstones (bile duct stones)
- Safely break up hard to reach stones in the pancreatic ducts
- Investigate cancerous and non-cancerous tumours
- Take tissue samples (biopsies)
- Managenarrowing (stenosis) of the bile ducts
One of our highly trained specialists will carry out your procedure in our private, state-of-the-art endoscopy unit near Harley Street.
By choosing The London Clinic, you’ll get a more compassionate and connected kind of care, from enhanced pre-admission through to aftercare and follow up.
Contact us today, so you can start your treatment journey and get back to the life you love.
FAQs
At The London Clinic SpyGlass cholangioscopy is a same-day procedure that is performed after you are put to sleep using general anaesthetic.
Your gastroenterologist begins by gently placing a 3mm thin, camera-tipped flexible tube, called an endoscope into the bile ducts (tubes) of your pancreas and gallbladder through your mouth.
During the procedure, the SpyGlass relays high-quality images of your bile ducts to a computer screen in real time.
The Spyglass allows your gastroenterologist to accurately identify cancerous and benign (noncancerous) tumours and take tissue samples (biopsies) from the ducts.
If there are stones blocking the ducts in your pancreas or gallbladder, your specialist will use a small Electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) probe attached to the SpyGlass to safely remove them.
If you have a narrowing (stenosis) of the ducts your gastroenterologist may implant a balloon or stent to keep them open.
After the procedure, your care team will take you to the recovery suite, so they can safely monitor you, until you wake up.
You may feel drowsy for up to twenty four hours after the procedure, so we will help ensure that you have safe transportation to get home.
Because a SpyGlass cholangioscopy is minimally invasive you should recover fairly quickly.
For the first twenty four hours you must avoid driving or operating machinery.
Most people find they can go back to work and carry on with normal activities a couple of days after the procedure.
The SpyGlass cholangioscopy procedure allows your gastroenterologist to diagnose and treat you for bile duct disease safely and effectively.
Your gastroenterologist may suggest you have a SpyGlass cholangioscopy if they can’t treat or diagnose your symptoms with an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure alone.
A SpyGlass cholangioscopy procedure can reduce the need for more complex surgery in the future.
The procedure under anaesthetic is fairly pain-free, but you may have some slight abdominal discomfort for a day or two afterwards.
Your care team will advise you on aftercare and how you can look after yourself following the procedure.
A small number of patients may experience a reaction to the procedure which includes inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and bile duct region (cholangitis).
Your endoscopy care team at The London Clinic are highly trained in SpyGlass cholangioscopy and will work together to ensure your procedure goes as smoothly as possible.
At The London Clinic, the gastroenterologists who offer Spyglass cholangioscopy are world leaders in their field.
During your same day procedure, your dedicated care team will look after you and make sure you have everything you need.
Your SpyGlass cholangioscopy procedure will take place in one of our private state-of-the-art endoscopy theatres near Harley Street.
To make you feel more comfortable while you’re with us, we offer extra touches like a concierge service.
Once you’re ready to leave The London Clinic, we’ll give you advice to follow to make sure you recover safely at home.
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic?
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
The UK’s largest independent hospital
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
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4.86/5 from over 1,600 reviews on Doctify and over 4.5 on Google.
Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Investing in clinical excellence
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.