[Piezoelectric lithotripsy in the treatment of symptomatic gallstone patients]

From January to May 1989, 50 patients with symptomatic gallstones were treated by means of extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy combined with oral bile acid therapy. In 98% of all patients stone fragmentation was achieved. The mean number of treatment sessions per patients was 3.24. We observed as complications one gallbladder- and one liver hematoma each besides colicy pain and asymptomatic laboratory changes. Two patients developed mild pancreatitis and two a cholecystitis; three patients had symptomatic common bile duct stones during the follow-up. ERCP with endoscopic papillotomy was performed four times, one female patient had to undergo surgery due to an acute gallbladder. Three months after the first treatment, 18 patients (36%) were stonefree, six months later 54% (21/39). Patients with solitary stones up to 2 cm in size were in 71.5% stonefree respectively after three months. Thus, piezoelectric lithotripsy represents in our opinion a possible therapeutic modality for the treatment of symptomatic gall stones in selected patients.