Endoscopic management of common bile duct stones: ESGE 2019 Guidelines

• ESGE recommends endoscopic ultrasonography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to diagnose common bile duct stones in patients with persistent clinical suspicion but insufficient evidence of stones on abdominal ultrasonography.


• Obtain liver function tests and abdominal ultrasonography as the first diagnostic steps for suspected CBDS

• ESGE recommends offering stone extraction to all patients with common bile duct stones, symptomatic or not, who are fit enough to tolerate the intervention.


• ESGE recommends liver function tests and abdominal ultrasonography as the initial diagnostic steps for suspected common bile duct stones. Combining these tests defines the probability of having common bile duct stones.


• In patients with acute cholangitis, perform endoscopic drainage as first-line therapy, with timing based on the severity of disease as follows:
  
  
  

  
  
  • 
    

    Severe: within 12 hours in patients with septic shock

    
    
  
  
  • Moderate: within 48–72 hours
  
  
  • Mild: elective
  
  

  
  


• ESGE recommends endoscopic placement of a temporary biliary plastic stent in patients with irretrievable biliary stones that warrant biliary drainage.


• Perform a limited sphincterotomy combined with endoscopic papillary large-balloon dilation (EPBD) as the first-line technique to remove difficult CBDS.


• Using cholangioscopy-assisted techniques to perform lithotripsy (electrohydraulic or laser) is safe and effective for treating difficult CBDS.


• ESGE recommends performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 2 weeks from ERCP for patients treated for choledocholithiasis to reduce the conversion rate and the risk of recurrent biliary events.

Manes G et al. Endoscopic management of common bile duct stones: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guideline. Endoscopy 2019 Apr 3; [e-pub]. (https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0862-0346