Transhepatic laser lithotripsy of choledocholithiasis: initial clinical experience.
Three patients with symptomatic intra- and extrahepatic choledocholithiasis who were not good candidates for retrograde endoscopy, surgery, or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) were treated successfully with endoscopically guided tunable dye laser lithotripsy via a 12-F transhepatic sheath. There were no complications secondary to the use of the laser. On the basis of this initial experience, transhepatic laser lithotripsy is a technically feasible and safe alternative when choledocholithiasis cannot be managed with retrograde endoscopy, ESWL, or surgery. Its role in the management of choledocholithiasis relative to other transhepatic techniques remains to be determined.
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital/Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
K L
KL
Sullivan
D H
DH
Bagley
S J
SJ
Gordon
M C
MC
Soulen
M
M
Grasso
J
J
Bonn
M J
MJ
Shapiro
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002758:Cholangiography; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged