About 15% of people with gallstones will develop stones in the
common bile duct. The common bile duct is a small tube that carries
bile from the gallbladder to the duodenum. Obstruction of the
common bile duct causes jaundice and other problems. It may also
lead to obstruction of the pancreatic duct because these ducts are
usually connected. If the pancreatic duct is also obstructed,
inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) will likely develop.
Review Date: 12/21/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
