Common bile duct procedures

If a stone in the common bile duct is not removed, the duct may become infected, resulting in emergency surgery. A common bile duct exploration may be needed during surgery to remove the gallbladder if stones are found in the common bile duct.

Surgery

The surgeon uses instruments to explore the common bile duct and adjacent structures. Once the stones are located, a flexible endoscope may be used to retrieve them. A temporary tube may be in place after the operation to drain excess bile.