Endoscopic laser lithotripsy for complicated bile duct stones: is cholangioscopic guidance necessary?

Endoscopic papillotomy is successful in more than 95% of the cases of choledocholithiasis. For patients with difficult bile duct stones not responding to mechanical lithotripsy, different methods for stone fragmentation have been developed.

To compare the results of laser lithotripsy with a stone-tissue recognizing system, when guided by fluoroscopy only or by cholangioscopy.

Between 1992 and 2002 we have treated 89 patients with difficult bile duct stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laser lithotripsy. Unsuccessful extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and electrohydraulic were also performed before laser in 35% and 26% of the cases, respectively.

Laser was effective in 79.2% of 72 patients guided by cholangioscopy and in 82.4% of 17 cases steered by fluoroscopy. The median number of impulses in the latter was 4,335 and 1,800 with the former technique. Two parameters influenced the manner of laser guidance. In cases of stones situated above a stricture, cholangioscopic control was more effective (64.7% vs. 31.9%). When the stones were in the distal bile duct, fluoroscopic control was more successful.

In cases of difficult stones in the distal bile duct, laser lithotripsy under fluoroscopic control is very effective and easily performed. Cholangioscopic guidance should be recommended just in cases of intrahepatic stones or in patients with stones situated proximal to a bile duct stenosis. In these cases, cholangioscopy should be performed either endoscopically or percutaneously.