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Gallbladder motility before and after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy
U Spengler1, M Sackmann, T Sauerbruch
1Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
Gastroenterology
|March 1, 1989
Summary
Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy does not affect gallbladder motility in patients with gallstones. Gallstone disease itself is linked to impaired gallbladder function, which persists even after stone removal.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Gallstones are common and can impair gallbladder function.
- Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a treatment for gallstones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ESWL on gallbladder motility.
- To determine if ESWL affects gallbladder contraction in response to cholecystokinin.
Main Methods:
- Ultrasound assessment of gallbladder contraction before and after ESWL.
- Study included 21 patients with symptomatic gallstones, with or without litholytic therapy.
- Comparison with healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Patients with gallstones exhibited significantly delayed and incomplete gallbladder emptying compared to controls.
- ESWL did not alter gallbladder motility in either group, immediately or one year post-treatment.
- Impaired gallbladder motility associated with gallstones was not resolved by ESWL.
Conclusions:
- ESWL is safe for gallbladder motility, with no immediate or long-term adverse effects.
- Gallbladder motility defects in gallstone disease are independent of stone presence and are not corrected by ESWL.
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