title: Single-operator cholangioscopy-guided laser lithotripsy in patients with difficult biliary and pancreatic ductal stones (with videos).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scant data exist on the utility of the holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser for the treatment of biliary or pancreatic duct stones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fiberoptic probe and catheter system-guided holmium laser lithotripsy of difficult biliary and pancreatic duct stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary-care referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved 64 patients who underwent holmium laser stone fragmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 patients (60 bile duct stones, 4 pancreatic duct stones) underwent endoscopic retrograde stone fragmentation with a holmium laser and a fiberoptic probe and catheter system. The inclusion criterion for bile duct stones was stones not amenable to retrieval by mechanical lithotripsy and/or balloon sphincteroplasty or standard techniques. Pancreatic duct stones included in this study were not amenable to removal by stone retrieval basket or balloon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rates of ductal clearance and procedural complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 64 patients had successful fragmentation of biliary and pancreatic duct stones with the holmium laser. Fifty of 60 patients (83.3%) had complete biliary duct clearance after a single session; 10 patients required an additional session. All pancreatic duct stones were fragmented in a single session. Mean duration of ERCP sessions was 45.9 minutes (range 30-90 minutes). Complications were mild and were encountered in 13.5% of patients; fever (n = 3), transient abdominal pain (n = 4), and biliary stricture (n = 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No comparative treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fiberoptic probe and catheter system facilitates transpapillary access for holmium laser fragmentation of difficult biliary and pancreatic duct stones. The technique is safe and highly effective for single-setting duct clearance. Complications are minimal and transient.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Endoscopy, Mumbai, India. ddc_endo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maydeo
authors.forename: Boon Eu Andrew
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kwek
authors.forename: Suryaprakash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhandari
authors.forename: Mukta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bapat
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dhir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002137:Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult