Endoscopic Therapy of Biliary Calculi

Since 1973, biliary calculi can be extracted from the common bile duct after endoscopic papillotomy (EPT). The success rate amounts to 90%. Complications occur in 7%, and 1% of the patients will die. The most frequent complication is haemorrhage (30%), but only 10% of these cases require surgery. Results of EPT are more favourable than those of surgery. Prophylactic antibiotics are not necessary, but in the event of fever, β-lactam antibiotics or modern cephalosporins are indicated.

When stone extraction fails, several different methods of lithotripsy can be employed: endoscopic mechanic, endoscopic electrohydraulic, and the recently developed extracorporally generated shock-waves. Lithotripsy will succeed in 80–90% of cases. As late sequelae after EPT cannot be completely excluded, dilatation of the papilla by balloon catheter was developed. However, the number of patients treated is still very small. When these methods fail or are not available, common bile duct stones can be chemically dissolved. Irrigation media are infused into the biliary tree via a nasobiliary tube after EPT or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. The substances used are cholesterol solvents such as mono-octanoin, GMOC or MTBE. A buffered 1% EDTA solution is used for calcium bilirubinate stones. Stone dissolution will succeed in 50–70% of cases. Side-effects include cholangitis and duodenitis.