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. 2025 Jan 26;9(1):e70080.
doi: 10.1002/oto2.70080. eCollection 2025 Jan-Mar.

Clinical Efficacy and Outcomes of Electro-Pneumatic Intracorporeal Lithotripsy in the Management of Sialolithiasis

Iulian Filipov  1   2 , Lucian Chirila  3 , Mihai Sandulescu  4 , Gheorghe Cristache  5 , Corina Marilena Cristache  6
Affiliations

Clinical Efficacy and Outcomes of Electro-Pneumatic Intracorporeal Lithotripsy in the Management of Sialolithiasis

Iulian Filipov et al. OTO Open. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of electro-pneumatic intracorporeal lithotripsy for the treatment of salivary gland stones.

Study design: A prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with obstructive salivary gland syndrome, where basket-assisted sialendoscopy alone failed to remove the calculi.

Setting: This study was conducted at the "Queen Maria" Military Hospital in Brașov, Romania, and a private practice, between February 2023 and May 2024.

Methods: A total of 29 patients with salivary calculi were treated using the SialoLither device (Hidromed), which operates on the electro-pneumatic principle. The number of sessions required for complete stone removal, the duration of each session, and the number of ballistic impulses applied were recorded. Statistical analyses, including the Mann-Whitney U test and multiple linear regression, were conducted to assess the relationship between stone size, location, and treatment outcomes.

Results: Complete removal was achieved in 72.4% of patients after a single session, with 100% success after 3 sessions. The average number of impulses was 13.9 (±4.25), with no significant difference in outcomes between the parotid and submandibular glands (P > .05). The total duration varied, with a mean time of 89.97 (±54.89) minutes. Complications were minimal, with only 2 cases of minor epithelial damage.

Conclusion: Electro-pneumatic intracorporeal lithotripsy is a highly effective, minimally invasive technique for managing salivary calculi, offering a safe and efficient alternative to traditional surgical methods.

Keywords: calculus removal; electrohydraulic lithotripsy; intracorporeal lithotripsy; minimally invasive surgery; pneumatic lithotripsy; salivary gland obstruction; salivary gland stones; sialendoscopy; sialolithiasis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SialoLither lithotripter: (A) central unit and trolley incorporating the compressed air cylinder; (B) 1.6‐mm “all‐in‐one” sialendoscope (Karl Storz) and 0.7‐mm probe.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A 3.1/5.2 mm calculus in the left submandibular gland. (A) Ultrasonography image; (B‐E) sequential endoscopic images during sialolithotripsy; (F) photograph of the removed calculus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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