Intraductal shock-wave lithotripsy in complicated common bile duct stones.

Intracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy was performed in 36 patients with problematic common bile duct stones. All of the patients had undergone unsuccessful mechanical lithotripsy prior to this procedure. In 29 patients (80.6%), the stones were fragmented under cholangioscopic control and subsequently extracted with a Dormia basket. In seven patients, the procedure failed due to stone impaction or failure to intubate the common bile duct with a nasobiliary tube. No complications were observed. Cholangioscopically guided intracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is a highly effective and safe procedure for the conservative treatment of complicated common bile duct stones.