Under normal circumstances, if the stone is small, it may pass on its own; however, if the stone is large, it is unlikely to be expelled naturally. Detailed analysis is as follows:
If the stone is small—for example, less than 0.5 cm in diameter and smooth-surfaced—it may pass through the cystic duct into the common bile duct and eventually be excreted into the intestines with bile, particularly when gallbladder contraction function is good and the bile duct is unobstructed. However, this scenario is relatively uncommon. During the passage, the stone may become lodged in a narrowed portion of the biliary tract, causing serious complications such as biliary colic, cholangitis, or even pancreatitis, which may present with symptoms including intermittent right upper quadrant abdominal pain, jaundice, and fever.
Larger stones generally cannot pass spontaneously due to the narrow diameter of the gallbladder and bile ducts. These stones may become impacted in the neck of the gallbladder or within the common bile duct, leading to bile duct obstruction, abdominal pain, chills, high fever, and other severe symptoms that can even be life-threatening.
If the stone is small, bile-promoting medications such as phenylpropanol soft capsules, anti-inflammatory bile-promoting tablets, or Chushu capsules may be taken orally under a doctor's guidance to help dilute bile, relax the smooth muscle of the gallbladder, and facilitate stone expulsion. At the same time, dietary adjustments are important—reduce intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods, and consume more fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Increased consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, which contain dietary fiber, can help promote intestinal motility and reduce bile stasis within the gallbladder.