Mechanical Lithotripsy of an Impacted, Large Bile Duct Stone

Choledocholithiasis is usually treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) and stone extraction with the help of a stone extraction basket or balloon. In cases of giant or incarcerated stones, a normal stone extraction is not always successful. In these cases, it can be necessary to perform a stone fragmentation to remove the stone. Stone fragmentation can be performed mechanically with a stone fragmentation basket, with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, or laser lithotripsy. The performance of a mechanical lithotripsy is widely spread, it is easy to perform and cost effective.¹

The authors present a case of a patient who underwent an ERC procedure for mechanical lithotripsy of a giant stone that could not be retrieved in the traditional way. This article is part of an expert video encyclopedia.