Clinical application of a new mechanical lithotripter for smashing common bile duct stones.

After endoscopic papillotomy, the extraction of large stones is often very difficult. In numerous cases, it proves impossible to remove large concretions using conventional methods. On account of technical problems, electro-hydraulic lithotripsy was unable to fulfill all the hopes placed in it. A possible alternative method is that of mechanical lithotripsy. Initial clinical experience gained in 8 patients with large stones in the common bile duct, has shown that, with the aid of the technically simple procedure, it is possible to extract such large concretions, too.