Bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis) are collections of solid material, majorly cholesterol, bile pigments or calcium (gallstones) present in bile ducts, which is a small tube that carries bile from gallbladder to the intestine. these stones may remain inside the duct and thereby resulting in blockage of the duct.Blockage of bile duct can cause the ducts to widen (dilate)causing fever, chills and jaundice (a yellowish discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes), loss of hunger, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain in right upper or middle upper abdomen, etc. most gallstones do not show any symptom for a long time.

In the United States, about 20% of people older than age 65 have been suffering from gallstones and about 15% of people with gallstones have stones in the common bile duct. each year, more than half a million people in the United States have their gallbladder surgically removed.