Silent migration: unexpected finding at ERCP

An elderly patient with a history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy presented with recurrent abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a dilated common bile duct (CBD) with filling defects. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) demonstrated multiple linear metallic clips with a halo of calculus material (figure 1). Attempts at removing the clips following a 10 mm sphincteroplasty resulted in horizontal impaction of clips beneath the trawling balloon (figure 2), increasing the risk …