[Electromagnetic shockwave lithotripsy of gallstones. Preliminary clinical experiences]

75 applications of extracorporeal electromagnetically produced shock-waves were performed on 40 patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones (27 women and 13 men; mean age 43.5 [25-69] years). The patients had up to three stones each, with a maximal diameter of 35 mm. Computed tomography revealed partial calcification of the stones in nine patients. Stone fragmentation succeeded in all patients. Two weeks after lithotripsy two patients were free of stone. Maximal fragment diameter, as measured by ultrasound, was less than 6 mm in 19 patients, 6-10 mm in 14, and 11-15 mm in five. At reexamination of 24 patients three months later, three additional patients were free of stone by ultrasound. No significant side effects were noted during the first 30 days after the procedure. But during further observation mild pancreatitis developed in two, while in one choledochal concrements caused obstructive jaundice which necessitated endoscopic papillotomy. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this method of fragmenting gall-bladder stones.