[Endoscopic stone extraction from the biliary tract--current status].
Endoscopic removal of bile duct stones has become a routine procedure. The present situation is analyzed in the light of patients treated in 1985 and 1986 by the same team. We report on 114 patients (46 men, 68 women, median age 74 years). Clearance of bile ducts was possible at first attempt in 80 patients (70%) and at second attempt in a further 8 patients (7%). Procedure-related mortality was 0.9%: one patient died after developing necrotizing pancreatitis. The complication rate was 10.6%. Among the 39 patients with gallbladders left in situ, 4 (10.8%) had to undergo cholecystectomy after an interval of 1 to 7 months. It is concluded that endoscopic removal of bile duct stones is a method with a high rate of success. However, even in experienced hands complications are by no means negligible.