[Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy of problem bile duct calculi]

ESWL is a new gentle, very effective, poor-risk technique in treatment of extrahepatic problematic bile-duct stones. This method might substitute surgical choledochotomy to a great extent. ESWL is a new therapeutic alternative to achieve nonoperative freedom of stones or, at least, to treat biliary obstruction in intrahepatic bile-duct stones, which are not treatable by endoscopic operative methods.