[Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in patients with bile duct calculi]

21 patients with choledocholithiasis, in whom methods such as endoscopy or mechanical lithotripsy were unsuccessful, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was performed. Fragmentation could be achieved in 90%, complete stone clearance after endoscopic stone extraction occurred in 76%. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has proven highly effective with a low complication rate and zero lethality. Therefore, its role in the management of gall stone disease in the elderly patient at high perioperative risk cannot be overemphasized.