[Biliary lithotripsy--a method of the treatment of cholelithiasis]

Crushing of stones in the gallbladder in a lithotriptor (Dornje MPL-9000 model) was tested in the clinic beginning from 1989. A total of 80 lithotripsies was conducted in 60 patients with radiotransparent+ stones measuring 25 mm on the average. Up to 3,000 pulsating-wave discharges were prescribed (a total of 2 sessions), which were generated by an underwater spark discharge. All of the stones were crushed. The stone fragments were dissolved by means of xeno and ursodeoxycholic acid (7-8 mg/kg daily). Ultrasonographic control 3 months after lithotripsy showed absence of stones in 29 patients (31.6%). The stone fragments disappeared completely in 15 (60%) in a group of 25 patients with solitary stones. Biliary lithotripsy had no side effects except for skin petechiae (6.6%), short-term hematuria (3.3%), and mild colics (6.6%). Extracorporeal pulsating-wave lithotripsy in combination with litholytic therapy is a safe and effective noninvasive method for the management of gallstones in a selected group of patients.