[Gallstone treatment using extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and adjuvant oral lysis: status and perspective]

Three years of clinical experience and the results of the "First International Symposium of Biliary Lithotripsy" showed that extracorporeal shock waves disintegrate cholesterol, pigment and calcified stones into fragments of 1 to 8 mm in diameter. Since spontaneous passage of fragments through the bile ducts is not possible, the therapeutic goal must be achieved with adjuvant oral lysis of the fragments. Therefore, only cholesterol stones are suitable, and a contractile gallbladder as well as a limited stone volume are prerequisites. After one year of treatment, in 45 to 80% of patients complete clearance of stone fragments from the gallbladder is observed. During this period one third of the patients experiences occasional colics. Further severe complications have not been reported.