Hi Tomas. The Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland Ohio may be able to help. Here is their website:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/pancreatic_disease/hic_pancreas_function_tests.aspx

I don't know about cost but you could contact them directly about payment and the type of testing you need. If they cannot help, I am sure they can recommend someone who can help. Good luck and God Bless.

I believe I had this test a few months ago.

Fun fact: My pancreatic juices are bright/neon red. I came out of the procedure and thought I had blood on my gown. The nurse told me it was my pancreatic juice!

The procedure is an endoscopy. An hour before the procedure begins they give you a hormone to trigger the pancreas to produce juice. They put you under and then measure the juice at different time intervals (1 hour, 1 hour 15 mins, etc).

Also since this was my first endoscopy they were looking for scarring in my pancreas. (And they found scarring...)

I have been working with the doctors from John Hopkins. I highly recommend the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department.

JH also will help out of state and international patients coordinate a visit: hopkinsmedicine.org/the_johns_hopkins_hospital/planning_visit/out_of_state_international_patients.html

Here is the link to their website: hopkinsmedicine.org/gastroenterology_hepatology/diseases_conditions/pancreatic_biliary_tract/chronic_pancreatitis.html

I've had two ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography) which involves injecting a dye into the pancreas allowing docs to take pictures inside the pancreas, The method used is endoscopic but they travel all the way to the duodenum where they can insert tools to preform surgery directly on the pancreas. My two EUS involved only traveling the scope to the stomach, My first ERCP involved a sphincterotomy to enlarge an extra duct I have in my pancreas that had become blocked. Second ERCP involved a balloon-sweep of the pancreas tail and sent me into the worse attack I've ever had and one I'm told I may never recover from. Those were done at University of California, San Francisco and two subsequent EUS at California Pacific Medical Center. UCSF has a well-known reputation but CPMC was far better to work with and have an outstanding diagnostic department. Trouble with a teaching hospital (UCSF) is the likelihood you will be treated by someone void of long experience. Being a practice dummy didn't work very good for me. The rookie who worked on me the second time really botched things up and it was clear he knew the big mistake he had made. As to cost, thank God I had insurance that paid it all but I did see a bill at one time for the second ERCP and subsequent hospital stay in excess of $100,000. Kind of sucks to know the patient gets to pay for the rookie's blunders with a fat hospital bill. Make sure you understand as much as you possibly can about any procedure on your pancreas because most can make it worse and sometimes much worse. If the GI does not like you asking questions (as my first did), leave and find another that will gladly answer your questions. Best of luck to you. I'm sending good energies over the pond to you!

I know Stanford does them. I had one scheduled about 2 months back but they had to cancel as the company that makes the drug to stimulate the secretion was out? Weird - I know. Suppose to have it back anytime.

Ive had several EUS at CPMC, one at UCSF-all clear too. Sometimes minimal change can be difficult to dx. Ever had increased lipase?