Abstract
Fourteen patients who failed at least 1 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpy attempt underwent Holmium laser biliary lithotripsy between 2003 and 2007. Ten had prior biliary surgeries, 7 harbored multiple stones, and 6 had common bile duct strictures. Mean age at surgery was 63.6 years (50 to 80 y), biggest stone burden 30 mm, mean operative time 58.4 minutes (24 to 105), and stone free rate 85.7%. One patient had postoperative bleeding from the choledochostomy tube that eventually resolved spontaneously and 3 patients had postoperative cholangitis managed conservatively. Neither conversions to open surgery nor mortality was recorded. Two patients were diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma missed by previous endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpy. After a mean follow-up of 18.9 months (2 to 43) no de novo strictures were recorded. Percutaneous choledochoscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy is a safe and effective minimally invasive technique to treat complex biliary stone disease and may preclude high-risk open biliary tract surgery.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
