In average Western populations, the overall prevalence of gallstones is between 10 and 20%, with a female to male ratio of about 2:1. Of these stones, only approximately 10% are located in the bile ducts while the vast majority is found in the gallbladder. The cumulative probability of patients with asymptomatic gallbladder stones becoming symptomatic over 20 years was shown to be about 20% 1. Once biliary pain has occurred, about half of such patients will develop further complications, e.g., acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis, cholangitis, or obstructive jaundice 2. The probability of patients with bile duct stones developing complications is estimated to approach 90%, although this figure has not been substantiated in prospective clinical trials.
