Open AccessPercutaneous cholecystolithotomy with endoscopic lithotripsy by using a pulsed-dye laser: preliminary experience.
Author(s) -
M L Bogan,
R. Hawes,
Kenyon K. Kopecky,
Robert J. Goulet
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
american journal of roentgenology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1546-3141
pISSN - 0361-803X
DOI - 10.2214/ajr.155.4.1975984
Subject(s) - medicine , percutaneous , lithotripsy , laser lithotripsy , dye laser , radiology , laser , nuclear medicine , surgery , optics , physics
Percutaneous cholecystolithotomy with endoscopically directed lithotripsy with a pulsed-dye laser was performed in eight patients for the treatment of symptomatic gallstones. All patients had stones that were not amenable to therapy by less invasive techniques. During the first stage of a two-stage procedure, a cholecystostomy catheter was placed percutaneously. During the second stage, performed at least 10 days later, the stones were fragmented with a laser and removed. Fragmentation of the stones was successful in all patients. In six patients, the gallbladder was completely cleared of stones, as assessed with endoscopy and cholecystography. In two patients, residual fragments remained in the gallbladder. No laser-related complications occurred. This preliminary experience suggests that the pulsed-dye laser is safe and effective in endoscopically directed lithotripsy of gallbladder stones.