Elsayed MOK, Talkhan MG. Asymptomatic bile duct stones: The devil is in the details. World J Gastrointest Endosc 2024; 16(5): 227-231 [PMID: 38813578 DOI: 10.4253/wjge.v16.i5.227]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mohamed Gamal Talkhan, MD, MRCP, Doctor, Department of Gastroenterology, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Marton Road, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, United Kingdom. mohamed.talkhan@nhs.net
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Endosc. May 16, 2024; 16(5): 227-231 Published online May 16, 2024. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v16.i5.227
Asymptomatic bile duct stones: The devil is in the details
Mohammed Omar Khalifa Elsayed, Mohamed Gamal Talkhan
Mohammed Omar Khalifa Elsayed, Mohamed Gamal Talkhan, Department of Gastroenterology, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, United Kingdom
Co-first authors: Mohammed Omar Khalifa Elsayed and Mohamed Gamal Talkhan.
Author contributions: Talkhan MG conducted the extensive literature review and research on management strategies for asymptomatic bile duct stones, and provided critical insights into the clinical implications and practical considerations of the discussed management plans; Elsayed MOK conceptualized the editorial, contributed to the overall design and structure, and contributed to the manuscript by offering expert opinions and perspectives based upon experience in the field; Both authors contributed to the writing, review, and editing of the editorial and approved the final version for submission.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mohamed Gamal Talkhan, MD, MRCP, Doctor, Department of Gastroenterology, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Marton Road, Middlesbrough TS4 3BW, United Kingdom. mohamed.talkhan@nhs.net
Received: December 29, 2023 Revised: March 8, 2024 Accepted: April 24, 2024 Published online: May 16, 2024 Processing time: 136 Days and 9.7 Hours
Abstract
Common bile duct (CBD) stones are a common biliary tract disease. For asymptomatic CBD stones, stone removal by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is recommended in available guidelines. Because asymptomatic CBD stones is a benign disease with no noticeable symptoms, the risk vs benefit strategy should be thoroughly considered before performing ERCP in these patients. Clinical care review, technical aspects of the procedure, and patient preferences should also be considered.
Core Tip: The ongoing debate surrounding the management of asymptomatic common bile duct stones presents a critical decision-making challenge for gastroenterologists. While conservative approaches emphasize watchful waiting and monitoring, endoscopic interventions offer potential benefits in terms of preventing future complications. However, both approaches carry a risk of complications. This review delves into the current evidence, weighing the pros and cons of both conservative and endoscopic strategies, aiming to guide practitioners in making informed decisions tailored to individual patient profiles.
