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Treating choledocholithiasis
Treating gallstones in the bile duct focuses on relieving the blockage. These treatments may include:
stone extraction
fragmenting stones (lithotripsy)
surgery to remove the gallbladder and stones (cholecystectomy)
surgery that makes a cut into the common bile duct to remove stones or help them pass (sphincterotomy)
biliary stenting
The most common treatment for gallstones in the bile duct is biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy (BES). During a BES procedure, a balloon- or basket-type device is inserted into the bile duct and used to extract the stone or stones. About 85 percent of bile duct stones can be removed with BES.
If a stone does not pass on its own or cannot be removed with BES, doctors may use lithotripsy. This procedure is designed to fragment stones so they can be captured or passed easily.
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