[Combined irrigation and endoscopy in the treatment of biliary duct stones (author's transl)]

In ten patients with biliary duct stones reoperation was not indicated and endoscopical stone extraction after papillotomy had failed due to the size of the concrements. As in some patients cholecystectomy had been performed several years ago and in others had not been done yet, treatment was commenced via an endoscopically inserted nasobiliary tube using media dissolving cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate stones. Results of treatment were satisfactory and side effects were tolerable. Results were compared with those after treatment with glycero-1-monooctanoate (Capmul 8210). In four patients distribution in the intra and extrahepatic biliary duct system was investigated by admixture of radiographically opaque media with both irrigation fluids. It was shown that both the oily and watery phase of the irrigation media were distributed homogeneously in the duct system and that the stone surface was covered adequately.