[Endotherapy of gallstones].

Choledocholithiasis is treated endoscopically by papillotomy and subsequent stone extraction. In 10% of cases this procedure does not succeed. mechanical lithotripsy has reached the stage of clinical applicability, it can be performed easily, has a high success rate, and equipment is relatively inexpensive. Alternative methods are electrohydraulic lithotripsy and chemical litholysis. Laser-, ultrasound- and jet-cutting-lithotripsy are still in a developmental stage, the latter two methods not yet having been applied in man. Endoscopic probing of the gall bladder for stone extraction or chemical litholysis with methyl-tert-butyl aether up to now have succeeded only in very few cases. Therapy of gall bladder stones by pulsed waves is already in clinical testing.