Advantages of nonsurgical treatment of bile duct stones

A variety of effective nonsurgical forms of treating bile duct stones have emerged to challenge the traditional role of surgery. Four distinct philosophies have evolved upon which to base treatment: the partisan, supermarket, combination, and deductive philosophies. Adopting the latter, it is argued that surgery remains the gold standard for the great majority of patients. Surgery should, however, give way to non-operative forms of treatment in those who are at high surgical risk because of concomitant medical problems, acute cholangitis and severe gallstone pancreatitis. These newer treatments should increase the proportion of symptomatic patients amenable to treatment.