Janice asks:
My mom has a blockage of the common bile duct and needs to have it unblocked. She also needs to have her gallbladder removed. What type of procedures do you do for this?

Anil Rustgi, MD responds:
Bile duct obstruction is a blockage in the tubes that carry bile, a liquid used in digestion, from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. When the bile ducts become blocked, bile accumulates in the liver. If the obstruction is caused by gallstones, these may be removed using an endoscope during an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) procedure.

In some cases, surgery is required to bypass the blockage. The gallbladder is usually surgically removed if the blockage is caused by gallstones. This procedure is called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our physicians are experts in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques.

To schedule an appointment with a Penn gastroenterologist who can evaluate your mother's condition and recommend the best course of treatment, please call 800.789.PENN (7366) or you can also request an appointment online.