Extracorporeal shockwave crushing of gallstones. Preliminary report

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was used for treatment of symptomatic x-ray negative stones in 23 patients. The number of ESWL sessions per patient was 1.8 (range 1-4). In 18 patients (78%), adequate fragmentation was seen comparable to results obtained elsewhere. Oral bile acid therapy was used after ESWL in the 18 patients mentioned and the mean follow-up period was five months (range 3-8 months). Four patients had by now passed all stones while 12 patients still had remaining stone fragments and one patient a gallstone. After ESWL, one patient was and one patient a gallstone. After ESWL, one patient was referred for cholecystectomy at his own request. Of the remaining five patients, cholecystectomy was performed in two and was scheduled for in three. Complications after ESWL were seen in two patients who developed acute pancreatitis. Thus, our preliminary experience shows that ESWL resulted in fragmentation and passing of gallbladder stones, but not without complications. Like the gallstone groups in Lyon, Montreal and Munich we are convinced that ESWL should be performed in accordance with prospectively designed protocols in order to establish optimal planning of indications and strategies for future treatment.