During ERCP, clinicians access the biliary tree and enlarge the duct opening when necessary. A balloon or basket can then capture and remove a stone after access is established. This sequence combines targeted entry with mechanical extraction, helping restore bile flow while limiting treatment to the obstructed duct.
Larger stones may not be removable through a single straightforward extraction. In those situations, clinicians may fragment the stone before removal or plan staged treatment rather than rely on one attempt. This approach addresses stone size as a technical factor and can support progressive clearance of the biliary tree.
Imaging helps clinicians identify where stones are located and characterize the biliary problem before treatment. For ductal stones, that information supports planning endoscopic access and determining whether duct opening enlargement, balloon extraction, basket use, fragmentation, or staged treatment may be needed. It also informs later decisions about gallbladder management.
A typical endoscopic approach first establishes access to the biliary tree, then enlarges the duct opening if needed, and finally uses a balloon or basket to extract the stone. When direct extraction is not sufficient, fragmentation or staged treatment may be incorporated. The procedure is therefore adapted to the technical demands of the obstruction.
Removing a ductal stone can rapidly relieve jaundice and biliary pain while addressing the obstruction that can contribute to infection or inflammation. These outcomes explain why the intervention is clinically important beyond simply retrieving a stone. Restored flow provides an immediate treatment benefit, while complication prevention remains a central goal.
After a ductal stone is removed, clinicians may still need to decide how to manage the gallbladder. Extraction addresses the immediate ductal obstruction, whereas subsequent gallbladder management is a separate clinical decision informed by the broader biliary situation. This distinction explains why successful ERCP may guide, rather than conclude, the overall treatment plan.