Gastroenterology Research, ISSN 1918-2805 print, 1918-2813 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Gastroenterol Res and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website http://www.gastrores.org

Original Article

Volume 5, Number 1, February 2012, pages 6-9

The Use of a Hemostasis Introducer for Percutaneous Extraction of Bile Duct Stones

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1. A 13-Fr Hemostasis introducer (Fast-Cath™, St. Jude Medical, Minnetonka, MN, USA) was used for easy and safe application of catheters to the bile duct over a percutaneus access.
Figure 2.
Figure 2. a: After having gained access to the bile duct by performing PTCD a hemostasis introducer is placed wireguided. b: The hemostasis introducer is fixed with a suture. With this access ballooncatheters and basketcatheters can be used to extract stones inside the bile ducts.
Figure 3.
Figure 3. A bile duct stone is visible inside the left hepatic duct (a, white arrowheads). The stone can be grasped with a wire-guided basket-catheter (b). Access to the bile ducts is gained over a percutaneus access. A hemostasis introducer is used as described in the text.