The impact of endoscopic surgery on the management of stones in the common bile duct (CBD) was studied. All patients with proven common duct stones managed by a single consultant during a 21-month period were included. Of a total of 60 patients, 48 were referred because of symptoms or signs of calculi in the CBD and 12 were found to have common duct stones although symptoms were related primarily to the gallbladder. Of the 48 patients referred with common duct stones, 41 (85 per cent) were successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) (complications were cholangitis (one patient), mild acute pancreatitis (one), impacted retrieval basket (one)). Of the remaining seven patients, two underwent open exploration (one after failed laparoscopic exploration) and five had successful laparoscopic duct exploration. One patient underwent laparoscopic exploration of the CBD but subsequently died. Of the patients with primary gallbladder symptoms, eight underwent preoperative ES, one was treated by laparoscopic duct exploration, one by conversion to open operation and in two patients duct stones were removed at postoperative ERC. The overall mortality rate was 2 per cent and the incidence of complications 12 per cent. Open exploration of the CBD was performed in three patients (5 per cent). This experience suggests that open duct exploration will become increasingly infrequent and may be replaced by endoscopic surgery in the majority of patients.