[Laser cholelithotripsy through choledochofiberscope: report of 30 cases]

Laser cholelithotripsy was performed in 30 patients. Stones crushed by the laser were completely removed in 29 patients (96.7%) without any complications. Animal experiments and clinical application showed that the procedure caused no damage to the bile duct. But when the duct was flushed by flow water at a speed of not less than 15 ml a minute, with the tip of quartz fiber of Nd-YAG laser attached directly to the stone, the beam was radiated with 50 to 60 watt power for 1 minute each time in an interval of 1-3 minutes. Cholelithotripsy is indicated for patients with large or impacted residual stones after cholelithotomy, which can not be removed by choledochofiberscope and retrieval forceps. It can also be used to incise cycloid bile duct stricture with 50 watt power.