Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy

Since 1983, 14 patients with intrahepatic and common bile duct stones have undergone percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy because the stones were too large to be removed using ordinary percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy. Stones were completely fragmented in seven cases (six with intrahepatic stones and one with common bile duct stone) and partially disrupted in five cases with intrahepatic stones. Intrahepatic duct angulation and stricture was the factor most often responsible for failure. All the disintegrated stones were removed by subsequent transhepatic cholangioscopy. Amongst the seven patients with complete stone fragmentation, six stones were found with electrohydraulic shock-wave lithotripsy and one with NdYAG laser lithotripsy. Complications of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy using electrohydraulic shock waves were found in three cases, two had transient haemobilia and one had fever and chills after the procedures. They all recovered by conservative treatment. NdYAG laser treatment was expensive, time consuming and inconvenient to use. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy by using electrohydraulic shock wave is an effective and safe method to fragment biliary stones and to facilitate their removal.