Intracorporeal retrograde choledocholithotripsy or ESWL as a therapy for choledocholithiasis

More than 90% of all common bile duct stones can be removed endoscopically following endoscopic sphincterotomy aided by the use of baskets, balloon catheters and mechanical lithotripsy. Oversized, very hard or impacted stones, however, often resist conventional endoscopic therapy. Promising new or improved approaches to the treatment of these stones are intracorporeal or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Shockwave lithotriptors for ESWL are currently available worldwide. However, to treat with the water-bath first generation devices general anaesthesia is required, since shockwaves are painful. Furthermore, an X-ray localization system is essential to visualize the stones after opacification of the bile duct via a nasobiliary catheter. On average, two shockwave treatments with a further one to four endoscopic sessions are required. Intracorporeal lithotripsy promises more comfort and less effort for the patient. Shockwaves are generated either by means of the spark gap principle (electrohydraulic probes) or by laser-induced plasma generation. Laser-induced shockwave lithotripsy appears to be the safer procedure, since with solid state lasers (Q-switched Nd: YAG, alexandrite) athermal, well controlled shockwaves can be generated without the risks of duct perforation (as described for the electrohydraulic system). Furthermore, a recently developed stone-tissue detection system integrated in a new dye laser system (Lithognost) enhances the safety of laser-induced lithotripsy. In consequence, laser lithotripsy without direct endoscopic control appears possible in selected cases.