Choledocholithiasis is the presence of gallstones in the common bile duct. This condition causes jaundice and liver cell damage, and is a medical emergency, requiring the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) procedure or surgical treatment. While stones can frequently pass through the common bile duct into the duodenum, some stones may be too large to passthrough the CBD and will cause an obstruction.