Search
Powered By HealthLine
Special Offers
Health Tools
 Heart Healthy Diet
 Ideal Body Weight Calculator
 Diet Reviews
 Fitness and Family
 Quiz: Test Your Fitness IQ
 Exercise and Fitness Guide
 Eat Out Smart
 Healthy Cooking
 BMI Calculator
Featured Conditions
 Diet & Exercise
 Stop Smoking
 Food & Fitness
 High Blood Pressure
 Cholesterol
 Heart
Resources
Healthscout News
3D Health Animations
Health Videos
Quizzes & Tools
Health Encyclopedia
In-Depth Reports
Library & Communities
News Archive
Drug Library
Find a Therapist
Enter City or Zip Code:
Powered by Psychology Today
PR Newswire
 Read latest







Channels
Home |  Today | Women| Men| Kids| Seniors| Diseases| Addictions| Sex & Relationships| Diet, Fitness, Looks| Alternative Medicine| Drug Checker
Medical Health Encyclopedia
 border=



Managing Common Bile Duct Stones

Common duct stones (choledocholithiasis) pose a high risk for complications and nearly always warrant treatment. There are various options available. It is not clear yet which one is optimal:

  • In the past, when common bile duct stones were suspected, the approach was open surgery (open cholecystectomy) and surgical exploration of the common bile duct. This required a wide abdominal incision.
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is now the most frequently used procedures for detecting and managing common duct stones. The procedure involves the use of an endoscope (a flexible telescope containing a miniature camera and other instruments), which is passed down the throat to the bile duct entrance.
ERCP
  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy also is increasingly being used for detection and removal of common duct stones. This is an approach through the abdomen but uses small incisions. In such cases, it is used in combination with ultrasound or a cholangiogram (an imaging technique in which a dye is injected into the bile duct and x-rays are used to view any stones.)
Text Continues Below



Experts are currently debating the choice between laparoscopy (which is an abdominal approach) and ERCP (in which the approach uses a tube down the throat). Many surgeons believe that laparoscopy is becoming safe and effective and should be the first choice. Still, laparoscopy for common duct stones should be performed only by surgeons experienced in this new and demanding technique.

How to Select Specific Common Bile Duct Stone Procedures

Page:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next >>

 







About The HealthScout Network Contact Us
Copyright © 2001-2009. The HealthCentralNetwork, Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy: Updated as of April 1, 2009  Terms of Service   Site Map
Advertising Policy