Gallstone in the bile duct; Bile duct stone

The goal of treatment is to relieve the blockage.

Treatment may involve:

• Surgery to remove the gallbladder and stones
• ERCP and a procedure called a sphincterotomy, which makes a surgical cut into the muscle in the common bile duct

Blockage and infection caused by stones in the biliary tract can be life threatening. However, with prompt diagnosis and treatment, the outcome is usually very good.

• Biliary cirrhosis
• Cholangitis
• Pancreatitis

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if abdominal pain with or without fever develops that is not attributable to other causes, if jaundice develops, or if other symptoms suggestive of choledocholithiasis occur.

Images

Bile pathway

Prostate

Choledocholithiasis

Gallbladder

Kidney cyst with gallstones, CT scan

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Choledocholithiasis Prevention

Review Date: 06/03/2008
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)