Choledocholithiasis is the 2^nd most common complication of gallbladder stone disease. It affects 10-20% of individuals with symptomatic gallstones and 5% of those with asymptomatic gallstones. To prevent further issues including obstructive jaundice, pancreatitis and cholangitis, CBD stones must be removed. Choledocholithiasis treatment options include open CBD exploration, laparoscopic CBD exploration, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which may be combined with or performed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Choledocholithiasis is a common problem encountered approximately in 10% of asymptomatic patients during cholecystectomy. 1-2% of patients following cholecystectomy will present with a retained stone in a setting where selective cholangiography is not performed.

About 15% of people with gall bladder stone develops stone in CBD. Stones may also be found in the intra- and extrahepatic, and common bile ducts. Typically, they come from the gallbladder and travel through cystic duct. Sometimes they are formed in the ducts and are then called ‘primary duct stones’. They are common in tropics and may be due to secondary infestation of the biliary tree by Ascaris lumbricoides and Clonorchis sinesis.

The consequences of duct stones are either obstruction or infection (cholangitis).

The patient may be asymptomatic or may have symptoms of pain, jaundice and fever.

Signs: tenderness may be elicited in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium.

There are two methods for extraction of CBD stones, either by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or surgically, by an open or laparoscopic method.

A good alternative to CBD decompression is the use of internal biliary stent widely used in endoscopic procedures and laparoscopic CBD exploration. Several studies have demonstrated the usefulness of these stents leading to decreased complications, morbidity and cost, as compared to t-tube in laparoscopic CBD exploration.

Prior to the use of stents, the primary treatment for biliary obstruction was surgery, such as choledochojejunostomy or choledochodudenostomy. The endoscopic placement of biliary stents was first introduced in the early 1980s. There was a rapid shift from surgery towards endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) stent placement because of its better mortality and morbidity profile. In 1982, the first 10 French plastic stent was placed into a bile duct. In the late 1980s, self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) were adapted to the biliary tract to improve patency. In 2012, the European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) published guidelines for clinical indications, and selection of stents.