Endoscopic lithotripsy in the common bile duct.

Electrohydraulic lithotripsy of stones lodged in the common bile ducts of human patients has been successfully accomplished. For this purpose, the lithotripsy probe was integrated with a Dormia basket. Common duct stones not otherwise amenable to release by endoscopic papillotomy can be removed by this procedure. A prerequisite, however, is that the stone to be shattered must be firmly lodged within the Dormia basket.