Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2026
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction
Published on: March 25, 2022
A new technique for removal of bile duct stones with an expandable metallic stent
Atsushi Minami1, Rikiya Fujita
1Nihon Medical School 2nd Hospital, Gastroenterological Center, Kawasaki Kyodo Hospital, Nakahara-Ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Background:
Endoscopic sphincterotomy is used routinely for extraction of bile duct stones. Also, endoscopic papillary dilation is a safe and effective technique that significantly reduces the need for papillotomy. However, extraction of large and/or multiple stones after endoscopic papillary dilation can be difficult. A new technique, endoscopic metallic stent-lithotripsy, for treatment of bile duct stones without endoscopic sphincterotomy or endoscopic papillary dilation is described.
Methods:
A self-expandable metallic stent was used to dilate the major duodenal papilla to allow lithotripsy and removal of bile duct stones in 38 patients.
Results:
The bile duct was successfully cleared of stones in 36 cases (95%). Complications included one episode of mild pancreatitis and one of cholangitis.
Conclusions:
Although the number of patients who underwent successful expanding metallic stent-lithotripsy was small, the method is promising as an alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy and endoscopic papillary dilation.
