Argon plasma coagulation for the resolution of basket impaction from large common bile duct stones

One of the most common indications for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is choledocholithiasis – the occurrence of stones in the common bile duct (CBD). However, in approximately 5% to 10% of cases, the procedure fails, especially in a patient with large or impacted stones [1]. An uncommon adverse event during ERCP with CBD stone clearance is impaction of the basket-stone complex, which sometimes leads to unnecessary surgical procedures such as laparoscopy or even exploratory laparotomy. This report describes a patient in whom argon plasma coagulation (APC) was used to resolve basket-stone impaction.