title: Pulse dye laser lithotripsy for large biliary tract stones.
abstract: From 1997 to 1998 the first series of 21 patients with large biliary tract stones (1.5-4.0 cm with average 2.5 cm in diameter) who underwent endoscopic stone extraction by using combination of ERCP and EST with automatic stone-tissue detection pulse dye laser was carried out. Male = 8, Female = 13, average age = 57.5 years (32-83) most of the stones were primary stones (71.4%). Laser fibers were controlled by balloon catheter with fluoroscope (blind technique) in 16 cases and by mother-babyscope system in 5 cases. The result in successful fragmentation of stones was 87.5 per cent with the blind technique and 100 per cent with the mother-babyscope technique. Temporary stents were used in the patients who had severe cholangitis and those who required more than one session of lithotripsy (19%). Complications consisted of controllable cholangitis in 2 cases (9.5%) and there was no mortality. We conclude that stone-tissue detection lithotripsy is very safe and effective in patients with large biliary tract stones and high surgical risk especially via the direct mother-babyscope system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panpimanmas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chantawibul
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ratanachu-Ek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index