[A year experience with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy of gallstones]

43 patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones were treated by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and oral bile acids. In all patients the stones were successfully fragmented during the first lithotripsy session. 33 patients underwent 2-4 treatment sessions. In 16 out of 43 patients the stones disappeared within 7.9 months. The rate of stone dissolution was dependent on the number and size of stones. 3 patients required surgery because of frequent colic in one case, cholecystitis in one case and lack of cooperation in one case. No important side effects were noted except mild pancreatitis 3 weeks after lithotripsy in one patient. Results at this center of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy combined with oral bile acids indicate that this treatment may become an alternative to cholecystectomy in patients with a small number (less than 3) of stones not exceeding 30 mm in diameter.