Cholate sodium infusion for retained common bile duct stones.

Eight patients with stones retained in the extrahepatic biliary tract underwent cholate sodium infusion for dissolution of the stones. In six patients, the stones disappeared. However, in two of the patients, the stones did not disappear, and they were removed with the ureteral basket. Infusion of cholate sodium was well tolerated by six patients, but was accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in two patients. In one case, mucosal deformity of the common bile duct was noticed during the infusion, but it was not apparent on a subsequent cholangiogram. As a result of our experience, we conclude that cholate sodium infusion is a safe procedure for the attempted dissolution of retained common bile duct stones.