{"id":1453,"date":"2023-03-21T15:05:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T15:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/?p=1453"},"modified":"2023-03-21T15:05:12","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T15:05:12","slug":"bile-duct-stones-symptoms-causes-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/bile-duct-stones-symptoms-causes-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Bile Duct Stones: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Essentially, bile duct stones can be best described as gallstones that get stuck in the bile duct, causing an obstruction. In the medical field, experts often refer to this health issue as choledocholithiasis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Proper <\/span>gallstone treatment<\/span><\/a> is essential with choledocholithiasis, as the obstruction can be immensely painful. Depending on the location of the bile duct stones, they can further damage other organs, such as the liver, pancreas, and digestive system.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, <\/span>Dr. Omar Rashid<\/span><\/a> and his expert team discuss the most prevalent symptoms of bile duct stones and the most common treatment options to address these obstructions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About Bile Duct Stones<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Bile duct stones are essentially gallstones that get stuck in these ducts, causing inflammation. In more severe cases, choledocholithiasis may also lead to infection and further complications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gallstones usually form because of chemical imbalances inside the gallbladder. For the most part, cholesterol levels in the bile become overly high, and the excess cholesterol form into stones. They are pretty common, affecting approximately six percent of men and around nine percent of women in the United States alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, most people who have these gallstones have no evident symptoms unless they start to grow or move. In these cases, they can cause intense pain. Some of these gallstones may move in the bile duct’s direction (the bile duct connects the small intestine and the liver). For the most part, the body can remove these stones without any problems, but in some cases, the stones can get stuck in the duct.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Needless to say, a bile duct obstruction can cause severe problems because they prevent the enzymes from the pancreas and liver from reaching the digestive system and aiding in its processes. Without treatment, these stones in the bile duct can cause severe health problems and immense pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Causes Bile Duct Stones?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

As mentioned above, these stones occur when gallstones enter the bile duct, causing an obstruction. Literally anyone can get gallstones and bile duct stones. Still, experts believe that the following groups of people may be even more susceptible:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n