Cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis and their complications

1. Big picture

Cholelithiasis means gallstones in the gallbladder. Choledocholithiasis means stones in the common bile duct. Most gallstones are silent, but when they obstruct the cystic duct, common bile duct, or ampulla of Vater, they cause the classic biliary emergencies:

Gallbladder stone → biliary colic / acute cholecystitis Common bile duct stone → obstructive jaundice / cholangitis Ampullary stone → acute biliary pancreatitis

Gallstones are common in developed countries and affect up to about 20% of the population in Europe. ([EASL-The Home of Hepatology.][1])