Fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous lithotripsy using FREDDY laser for giant gallstones: Preliminary experience.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis with large gallstones remains a challenge. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new method for the removal of giant gallstones with percutaneous lithotripsy using a frequency-doubled double-pulse neodymium: YAG (FREDDY) laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 16 patients (7 males, 9 females; mean age, 63.4 ± 14.9 years) with giant gallstones who experienced the recurrence of cholecystitis and were not eligible for operation. The percutaneous transcystic approach was established using an 8-French sheath. A 6-French steerable sheath were inserted through the sheath. FREDDY laser lithotripsy was performed to break the stones into fragments. The stone fragments were extracted through the 6-French sheath or pushed into the duodenum using a balloon catheter. Cholecystography was performed before removing the catheter. Follow-up ultrasound or computed tomography examination were performed. RESULTS: Gallstone clearance was accomplished in 16 (100%) patients at the initial assessment. Eleven patients underwent one session, and five patients underwent two sessions. Residual stones were found in 3 (18.8%) patients during the follow-up period. Peritonitis was found in two (12.5%) patients and hemocholecyst was detected in one (6.3%) patient. No procedure-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous lithotripsy using a FREDDY laser may be an effective and safe alternative choice for treating giant gallstones, especially for patients who are not eligible for cholecystectomy.

The Management of Large Bladder Calculi by Utilizing Dual-Action Percutaneous Lithotripsy via Suprapubic Tube Sheath: A Novel Technique.

Bladder calculi commonly develop in patients with poor bladder emptying or those with retained foreign bodies within the bladder, leading to irritative voiding symptoms, hematuria, and an increased likelihood of refractory urinary tract infections. While many techniques exist for the treatment of bladder calculi, including endoscopic and open-surgical approaches, our novel technique may help manage exceptionally large or difficult-to-treat bladder calculi effectively. We present three patients with symptomatic bladder calculi ranging from 1.3 cm to 6.8 cm in size who were successfully treated by using our novel technique. Percutaneous access to the bladder was obtained by using a suprapubic catheter trocar and sheath to enable the utilization of a dual-action lithotriptor. Sheath insertion and lithotripsy were performed under direct visualization with a rigid cystoscope via the native urethra. This technique is easily learned and can be safely employed in patients in whom other methods may pose risks of higher morbidity.

Ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (UMP): one more armamentarium.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our newly developed technique for the removal of renal stones, which we have called ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (UMP). METHODS: UMP was performed in 62 patients using a 3.5-F ultra-thin telescope and specially designed inner and outer sheaths. A standard puncture was made and the tract was dilated up to 13 F. The outer sheath was introduced into the pelvicalyceal system and the stone was disintegrated with a 365-µ holmium laser fibre, introduced through the inner sheath. Stone fragments were evacuated using the specially designed sheath by creating an eddy current of saline; the fragments then came out automatically. RESULTS: The mean calculus size was 16.8 mm. Four of the 62 patients were children, three had a solitary kidney and two were obese. UMP was feasible in all cases with a mean (SD) 1.4 (1.0) gm/dL haemoglobin decrease and a mean hospital stay of 1.2 (0.8) days. The stone-free rate at 1 month was 86.66%. In two patients intraoperative bleeding obscured vision, requiring conversion to mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy. There was one postoperative complication of hydrothorax, but there were no other postoperative complications and no auxiliary procedures were required. CONCLUSIONS: UMP is a very safe and effective method of removing renal calculi up to 20 mm. The use of consumables and disposables is minimal and the patient recovery was fast. Further clinical studies and direct comparison with other available techniques are required to define the place of UMP in the treatment of low-bulk and medium-bulk renal urolithiasis. It may be particularly useful for lower calyx calculi and paediatric cases.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy for the Treatment of Difficult Bile Stones.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic lithotripsy (PTL) using an electro-hydraulic (EH) system for difficult bile stones. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated two patients with recurrent cholangitis, jaundice and fever for the presence of difficult bile stones, inaccessible by an endoscopic approach, treated with PTL. Both procedures were conducted using the same protocol, with two different accesses. The treatments were performed using a 10 Fr flexible choledoscopy SpyGlass DSTM for visualization and an EH system for lithotripsy. RESULTS: Technical success, clinical success and complications were evaluated. The two procedures were successfully concluded in both patients without any residual stones in the biliary tree. For both patients, a short follow-up period of six months was available, during which they remained asymptomatic. Neither major nor minor complications were registered. CONCLUSION: PTL was determined to be an effective and safe technique. This procedure allows a direct visualization of the stone, reducing fluoroscopy time and permitting a less invasive and less traumatic method for the percutaneous management of difficult bile stones. Advances in knowledge: The direct visualization, the high quality of the digital view, the adequate length of the device and the less traumatic approach of EH systems represent advantages compared with other available technologies.

Percutaneous transhepatic endoscopic lithotripsy of biliary stones with holmium laser for the treatment of recurrent cholangitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transhepatic endoscopic holmium laser biliary lithotripsy (PTBL) to treat recurrent cholangitis due to intra/extrahepatic stones, in patients not candidate for traditional endoscopic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 28 patients (M:F = 19:9, mean age = 65 years, SD = 14) undergoing 43 PTBL for stone-related recurrent cholangitis from January 1, 2012 to January 31, 2019 in a single academic center. Data collected included demographics, location and number of stones, clinical success after one (primary) or more than one (secondary) PTBL, procedure time, duration of hospital stay, number of retreatments and post-procedural complications. Clinical success was defined as the resolution of cholangitis at 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: PTBL were successful for 23/28 (82%) patients, 16 (57%) with one and 7 (88%) with repeat procedures. The remaining 5 (18%) patients were finally treated with surgery (3, 11%) or further antibiotics (2, 7%). PTBL were performed to treat intrahepatic stones (22 treatments, 51%), extrahepatic (14, 33%), and both intra/extrahepatic (7, 16%). One to three stones were found in 12/43 (28%) PTBL, more than three in 31/43 (72%). Single PTBL was performed in 20/28 (71%) patients, two in 3/28 (11%), three in 3/28 (11%), and four in 2/28 (7%). Median procedure duration was 115 (29-210, 95% CI 101-129) minutes; median hospital stay was 5.5 (2-42) days. The only major complication was the breakage of a guidewire tip, surgically retrieved; minor complications included one aspiration pneumonia and three instances of intrahepatic hemorrhage, treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: PTBL was clinically successful in the 82% of patients not candidate for endoscopic treatment, with a low complication rate.

The modified ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy technique and comparison with standard nephrolithotomy: a randomized prospective study.

To compare the success and complications of ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (UPNL) and standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy (SPNL) techniques. We prospectively analyzed 50 patients who underwent SPNL, and 47 patients who underwent UPNL. The patients with a stone size equal to or smaller than 25 mm and we used flipping a coin as the randomization technique. The mean stone size was 20.9 ± 3.6 mm in SPNL, and 20.3 ± 3.0 mm in ultra-mini PNL groups. Stone free rates were 88 % (44/50 patients) and 89.3 % (42/47 patients) in SPNL and UPNL groups, respectively, without any significant difference in between (p = 0.33). No major complications were seen in the UPNL group. PNL has been modified into micro PNL and UPNL parallel to the technological advances to decrease the complications of PNL. When performed as we do UPNL may be an alternative method to SPNL without any additional smaller-calibred nephroscope and with a similar high success rate.

Percutaneous transhepatic holmium laser lithotripsy of a large common bile duct stone.

A 58-year-old woman presented with a 4 cm obstructing choledocolith within the proximal common bile duct. She had an extensive operative history resulting in common bile duct to jejunum anastomosis after cholecystectomy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) removal was unsuccessful, and surgical exploration was contraindicated due to multiple comorbidities. Interventional radiologist placement of bilateral transhepatic ureteral access sheaths allowed Urologist evaluation of the biliary tract by ureteroscope. Holmium laser lithotripsy was performed with successful fragmentation of the stone and clearance of the obstruction, without complication. The case is relevant to the growing literature on the management of refractory biliary stones after failed ERCP.

Percutaneous transhepatic endoscopic holmium laser lithotripsy for intrahepatic and choledochal biliary stones.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To report our experience in treating complicated biliary calculi by percutaneous transhepatic endoscopic biliary holmium laser lithotripsy (PTBL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten symptomatic patients with intrahepatic or common bile duct calculi underwent PTBL. Six of these patients had previously undergone unsuccessful endoscopic treatment; four patients were declared not suitable for endoscopic procedure. PTBL was performed with a flexible choledochoscopy inserted by way of the percutaneous access sheath. A holmium laser was used to fragment the biliary stones. Sphincteroplasty was performed when considered necessary and an occlusion balloon for the clearance of common bile duct (CBD) calculi was used when continuous warm saline irrigation at high pressure was not sufficient. Clinical follow up was performed by the referring physician. Technical success, clinical success and complications were evaluated. MAIN FINDINGS: Technical success rate was 100%. The overall clinical success rate was 100%. No patients underwent additional procedures for retained stones or developed de novo strictures or other complications related to the procedure. Hospital stay was no more than 4 days after the procedure. Duration of follow-up was 6-25 months (mean 12.6). One patient died from unrelated causes. During this period, no recurrence and/or complications related to procedure were observed. No major complications were registered. Minor complications like temporary abdominal pain were considered not significant by the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Complicated or large biliary calculi can be treated successfully using PTBL. In selected patients, this approach should become the first choice of treatment after other treatments are rejected.

Percutaneous Lithotripsy for Removing Difficult Bile Duct Stones Using Endoscopy

PURPOSE: To describe efficacy of percutaneous lithotripsy for removing difficult bile duct stones using endoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 88 patients with difficulties for the removal of bile duct stones using endoscopy (an impacted stone, stone size >15 mm, intrahepatic duct (IHD) stone, stone size to bile duct diameter ratio >1.0), were enrolled in this study. A 12 Fr sheath was inserted through the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tract, and then nitrol stone baskets and a 0.035" snare wire were used to capture, fragment and remove the stones. The technical and clinical success rates were analyzed, together with an analysis of any complications. RESULTS: The overall technical success rate of stone removal was achieved in 79 of 88 patients (89.8%). In five of nine patients with failed stone removal, small residual IHD stones were noted on a cholangiogram. Even if stone removal failed in these cases, cholangitic symptoms were improved and the drainage catheter was successfully removed. Therefore, clinical success was achieved in 84 of 88 patients (95.5%). There were no significant procedure-related complications, except for sepsis in one case. CONCLUSION: Billiary stone removal using the stone basket and guide-wire snare technique through the PTBD tract is a safe and effective procedure that can be used as a primary method in patients with difficulties for the removal of bile duct stones using endoscopy.