Dr. Jessica Schembri Higgans

Management of Choledocholithiasis

Cholelithiasis is a common surgical pathology, up to 25% of symptomatic patients may have choledocholithiasis. Cholecystectomy is the gold-standard treatment for cholelithiasis. Treatment of choledocholithiasis may consist of minimally invasive two-session (ERCP + laparoscopic cholecystectomy) or single-session (laparoscopic cholecystectomy + CBD exploration) treatments. Percutaneous radiological stone extraction and open duct exploration should be reserved for the small number of patients in whom these techniques fail or are not possible. In cases where stone extraction may be difficult, the open surgical approach still retains an important role.