Percutaneous endoscopic laser lithotripsy of retained stones in the left hepatic duct. The role of the surgeon

Abstract

A 35-year-old woman with a retained stone in a branch of the left hepatic duct was referred to us. The stone was discovered on the postoperative T-tube cholangiogram. A flexible ureteroscope was introduced into the duct, under fluoroscopic and direct endoscopic vision and the pulse dye laser was used successfully to disintegrate the calculus. The postoperative course was uneventful. We suggest that in certain selected cases, the pulsed dye laser might be useful in disintegrating stones sited in difficult positions.