Endoscopic percutaneous transhepatic cholelithotripsy in the treatment of complicated stones in the deep biliary tracts

: The results of endoscopic percutaneous transhepatic cholelithotripsy in seven patients with stones in the deep biliary passages which could not be treated by endoscopic papillotomy (EST) or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) are presented. A new dilator technique combined with mechanical or laser-lithotripsy was employed. All of the patients were relieved of the stones after uncomplicated course. It is concluded that endoscopic percutaneous cholelithotripsy which can be carried out under local anaesthesia, should be offered to patients with stones in the deep biliary passages which are not accessible to conventional treatment with EST or ESWL.