Bile Duct Stones

A gallstone that becomes stuck within a bile duct is called a bile duct stone or biliary stone, and this condition – called choledocholithiasis – can cause significant pain and discomfort. It can also have serious health consequences. These stones are made up of bile salts and/or cholesterol that has accumulated to form a hard substance, and other signs and symptoms of them include nausea, chills, fever, weight loss, jaundice and night sweats. Standard treatments for bile duct stones include endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic sphincterotomy.