Beijing Anzhen Hospital Advances Minimally Invasive Digestive Treatment with Successful Painless ERCP Procedures
A Breakthrough in Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Care
Beijing Anzhen Hospital’s Tongzhou Campus has officially launched its ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) program, a minimally invasive treatment that removes bile duct stones without open surgery.
During the procedure, an endoscope is inserted through the mouth into the duodenum to visualize and treat bile or pancreatic duct obstructions. This method greatly reduces patient trauma, pain, and recovery time compared to traditional surgery.
On the program’s first day, Dr. Li Wei, Director of the Gastroenterology Department, led his team to successfully perform two ERCP stone removal surgeries under full anesthesia. These were completed with the support of the hospital’s Anesthesia and Perioperative Center, ensuring a truly painless and comfortable experience for the patients.
Complex Cases, Safe Outcomes
Both patients were transferred from outside Beijing after being diagnosed with common bile duct stones. One was an elderly patient; the other had a previous history of aortic dissection surgery, having undergone thoracic stent-graft implantation and bypass two years prior—conditions that made anesthesia and endoscopic intervention extremely high-risk.
Drawing on Anzhen Hospital’s decades of expertise in treating cardiovascular and digestive comorbidities, Dr. Li Wei’s team carried out both procedures flawlessly. Using precise endoscopic guidance, the team accessed the bile duct through the duodenum, located and removed the obstructing stones, and ensured complete ductal clearance. Both patients recovered smoothly and reported no postoperative complications.
Understanding ERCP and Its Advantages
ERCP combines endoscopy and fluoroscopy to diagnose and treat disorders of the bile and pancreatic ducts. It allows physicians to perform procedures such as:
- Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST)
- Bile duct stone removal
- Biliary drainage and stent placement
Compared to traditional open or laparoscopic surgery, ERCP offers significant advantages:
✔ Minimally invasive – no abdominal incision required
✔ Rapid recovery – most patients can resume normal diet within 24–48 hours
✔ Painless – performed under deep sedation or general anesthesia
✔ Effective – excellent stone clearance and long-term success rates
Expert Insight: Dr. Li Wei
Dr. Li Wei, Chief Physician and Associate Professor of Gastroenterology at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, is a leading expert in advanced endoscopic therapy.
He is proficient in ERCP, EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound), and ESD (Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection) techniques, with more than 10,000 successful endoscopic procedures to his credit. Dr. Li serves as a certified national instructor for advanced endoscopic surgery and has performed numerous live demonstrations at international and national endoscopy conferences.
He also leads multiple research projects, including studies supported by the Beijing Hospital Administration, Tibet Natural Science Foundation, and Beijing Key Laboratory Program, and serves on the editorial board of Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy.
