[Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for choledocholithiasis].

By the advent of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), the plan to manage choledocholithiasis has changed greatly. As a non-operative treatment, endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is intensively performed, but ESWL is much safer than EST in invasiveness and complications. Without EST, 5 Fr endoscopic naso-biliary drainage (ENBD) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) aiming at preservation of the function of the papilla Vater were inserted to make drainage first for the patients with choledocholithiasis with obstructive jaundice who visited our hospital. After the cholangitis subsided, ESWL was performed under the direct cholangiography through ENBD and PTBD and excellent results were obtained which are herein reported. ENBD has been performed on 98 cases of choledocholithiasis over the past 4 years. ESWL has been performed on 42 cases (ENBD 36 cases and PTBD 6 cases). Choledocholithiasis completely disappeared in 31 cases (73.8%). For unsuccessful cases, EST, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS), or laparotomy was performed.