Learn About Choledocholithiasis

What is the definition of Choledocholithiasis?

Choledocholithiasis is the presence of at least one gallstone in the common bile duct. The stone may be made up of bile pigments or calcium and cholesterol salts.

What are the alternative names for Choledocholithiasis?

Gallstone in the bile duct; Bile duct stone

What are the causes of Choledocholithiasis?

About 1 in 7 people with gallstones will develop stones in the common bile duct. This is the small tube that carries bile from the gallbladder to the intestine.

Risk factors include a history of gallstones. However, choledocholithiasis can occur in people who have had their gallbladder removed.

What are the symptoms of Choledocholithiasis?

Often, there are no symptoms unless the stone blocks the common bile duct. Symptoms may include:

  • Pain in the right upper or middle upper abdomen for at least 30 minutes. The pain may be constant and intense. It can be mild or severe.
  • Fever.
  • Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Clay-colored stools.
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What are the current treatments for Choledocholithiasis?

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 to allow stones to pass or be removed
Who are the top Choledocholithiasis Local Doctors?
General Surgery
General Surgery

Kettering Independent Medical Group Inc

4403 Far Hills Ave, 
Kettering, OH 
 0.4 mi
Accepting New Patients

Brian Ondulick is a General Surgeon in Kettering, Ohio. Dr. Ondulick and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Choledocholithiasis. His top areas of expertise are Hernia, Gallbladder Disease, Gallstones, Hip Replacement, and Lymphadenectomy. Dr. Ondulick is currently accepting new patients.

General Surgery
General Surgery

Kettering Independent Medical Group Inc

4403 Far Hills Ave, 
Kettering, OH 
 0.4 mi
Accepting New Patients

Carol Sawmiller is a General Surgeon in Kettering, Ohio. Dr. Sawmiller and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Choledocholithiasis. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Angiosarcoma, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Bladder Reconstruction, and Hernia Surgery. Dr. Sawmiller is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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General Surgery
General Surgery

Kettering Independent Medical Group Inc

4441 Far Hills Ave, 
Kettering, OH 
 0.5 mi
Accepting New Patients

Andrew Archer is a General Surgeon in Kettering, Ohio. Dr. Archer and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Choledocholithiasis. His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Gallbladder Disease, Lymphadenectomy, and Hernia Surgery. Dr. Archer is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Choledocholithiasis?

Blockage and infection caused by stones in the biliary tract can be life threatening. Most of the time, the outcome is good if the problem is detected and treated early.

What are the possible complications of Choledocholithiasis?

Complications may include:

  • Biliary cirrhosis
  • Cholangitis
  • Pancreatitis
When should I contact a medical professional for Choledocholithiasis?

Contact your provider if:

  • You develop abdominal pain, with or without fever, and there is no known cause
  • You develop jaundice
  • You have other symptoms of choledocholithiasis
What are the latest Choledocholithiasis Clinical Trials?
Prevention of Post-sphincterotomy Bleeding by Endoscopic Tranexamic Acid and Sucralfate Administration: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial. Patients with choledocholithiasis scheduled for ERCP with EST at National Cheng Kung University Hospital and Siriraj Hospital were enrolled. The study will recruit 120 patients. After randomization, 60 patients will be classified into the intervention group and 60 into the control group. The participants will receive standard ERCP and EST for common bile duct s...

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Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Cholecystocholedocholithiasis in Children: Should It Be Accomplished in One or Repeated Hospitalization?

Summary: Chronic calculous cholecystitis in pediatric patients leads to choledocholithiasis in about 12% of cases. These patients require removal of stones from the common bile duct. The most common method of cleaning the common bile duct is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and the standard technique for removing the gallbladder is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There are different approaches...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: May 02, 2023
Published By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Fogel EL, Sherman S. Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 146.

Pattni C, Zenlea T. Choledocholithiasis. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:368-369.

Radkani P, Hawksworth J, Fishbein T. Biliary system. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 55.