Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy in the Treatment of the Mirizzi Syndrome. A Clinical Case

Aim. To present an interesting case of treating cholelithiasis in the setting of the Mirizzi syndrome.

Materials and methods. This paper presents a clinical case of patient A. (62 years old) who was admitted to hospital with the following diagnosis: cholelithiasis, cholecysto-choledocholithiasis, obstructive jaundice. Drawing on the medical history and complaints of the patient, as well as on the results of physical, laboratory, instrumental and preliminary examination, the patient was diagnosed with choledocholithiasis in the setting of the Mirizzi syndrome. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was prescribed. The ERCP was performed in four stages. The first stage included a typical endoscopic papillotomy, a retrograde cholangiopancreatography, as well as an attempt at endoscopic mechanical lithoextraction; however, the calculus could not be removed. During the second stage, the calculus was visually localized, and its size was determined. The third stage consisted in performing electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) and mechanical lithoextraction of calculus fragments. The final, fourth stage involved follow-up direct cholangioscopy, which revealed that the common bile duct was patent and there were no calculi.

Results. EHL constitutes a high-tech method of crushing calculi, which provides an opportunity to carry out minimally invasive treatment in patients with complicated cases of choledocholithiasis, when standard methods of mechanical lithoextraction are not effective.