[Results of extracorporeal lithotripsy in the treatment of cholelithiasis]

Abstract

Treatment of gallstones with extracorporeal lithotripsy includes the stones fragmentation with shock-waves and the dissolution of fragments with bile acids. It is a well-tolerated treatment than can be performed on an out-patient basis. However, lithotripsy is an effective treatment only in highly selected patients (low calculous volume, radiolucent stones, functioning gallbladder). A satisfactory clearance rate is observed only in patients with solitary stones < or = 20 mm in diameter (70-80% at one year). The stone recurrence rate seems to be low in patients who had solitary stones.