Use of the electrohydraulic lithotriptor in the biliary tree in dogs.

The electrohydraulic lithotriptor, a machine which breaks up stones by generating a hydraulic shock wave, was assessed as a means of facilitating percutaneous extraction of biliary calculi. Tissue exposed to the lithotriptor showed no mucosal damage when studied histologically; however, round-cell infiltration was seen in one dog, raising the possibility of long-term stricture formation. Eighty per cent of the calculi could be fragmented with the lithotriptor. The application and limitations of the system are discussed.