[Oral dissolvents and extracorporeal lithotripsy: respective role and modalities of application]

Oral dissolution therapy can be proposed to patients with symptomatic gallstones, with stones less than 15 mm diameter, in any number, without calcification, within a functioning gallbladder (i.e. opacified by oral cholecystography). In particular, it may be useful in patients aged over 70, or with a high operative risk, or who refuse surgery or general anesthesia. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (followed by oral dissolution therapy) is also indicated in symptomatic gallstones, without calcification or slightly calcified in a functioning gallbladder, when stone size is between 8-10 and 30 mm and stone number lower than 3. After successful dissolution, recurrence is observed with an incidence of 5 to 10% per year during the first five years. In case of symptomatic recurrence, retreatment is indicated.