Mechanical lithotripsy of large gallstones: correlation with CT characteristics
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Published on: September 13, 2022
J S Halsey1, J Wolak, S J Schulte
1Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Abstract:
The CT characteristics of gallstones were correlated with mechanical forces required to fragment calculi in vitro. Forty-two gallstones > or = 11 mm in largest diameter were subjected to in vitro CT scanning and categorized as isodense, faint, laminated, rimmed, or dense as compared with saline. A mechanical lithotripter, attached to a dynamometer, was utilized simulating in vivo technique to accomplish lithotripsy. Significantly more force was required to fracture CT-dense (p < 0.02) and CT-rimmed (p < 0.05) gallstones than was required to fracture CT-isodense gallstones.
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