Nonsurgical treatment of biliary lithiasis.

Abstract

The paper is a review of the clinical experience acquired during the last 15 years in the treatment of biliary lithiasis with cholecyst or choledochal localization using methods which were expected to exclude surgery. After a short presentation of lithogenesis a brief description is made of chemical litholysis, endoscopic treatment and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). The indications, techniques of treatment results, risks and accidents are also presented with an estimation on the financial efficiency of the new procedures.