*Effect of Prophylactic CBD Stenting Versus Non Stenting on Recurrence of CBD Stones in Patients Awaiting Cholecystectomy*

Choledocholithiasis, the presence of stones in the common bile duct (CBD), occurs in 10-20% of patients with symptomatic gallstones and can lead to severe complications such as obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, and pancreatitis Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (\*\*ERCP\*\*) with stone extraction is the gold standard treatment, achieving \>90% success rates in ductal clearance. Despite successful initial clearance, CBD stone recurrence remains a significant issue, with reported rates ranging from 4% to 24% . To reduce recurrence, prophylactic biliary stenting has been proposed, particularly in high-risk patients (e.g., large or multiple stones, dilated CBD, periampullary diverticulum) However, its routine use remains controversial due to conflicting evidence on efficacy, stent-related complications (e.g., migration, occlusion, cholangitis), and increased healthcare costs.