[Treatment of common bile duct stones]

Open single-stage treatment of gallstones and common bile duct stones (CBDS) has previously been standard procedure. Endoscopic stone extraction after a sphincterotomy has become a well-established therapeutic modality during the last twenty years and is now the standard procedure. The available options for management of patients with CBDS are reviewed. Although there is no evidence concerning the best treatment of CBDS, it is concluded, that a two-stage procedure with endoscopic CBDS extraction followed by cholecystectomy has no advantages over a single stage open or laparoscopic procedure. In the future the treatment of CBDS will be differentiated depending on size of the stone, the occurrence of complications to CBDS and the general health of the patient.