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Related Experiment Videos

Gallstone lithotripsy

D L Nahrwold1

  • 1Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.

American Journal of Surgery
|April 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) offers a safe and effective treatment for single gallstones up to 20 mm. However, its efficacy diminishes for larger or multiple gallstones, and it is not FDA-approved for gallstone treatment in the US.

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Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Medical Devices
  • Surgical Technology

Background:

  • Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been utilized for gallstone treatment since the mid-1980s.
  • Current treatment protocols typically target symptomatic patients with limited, radiolucent gallstones (≤30 mm) and a functioning gallbladder.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ESWL for gallstone management.
  • To identify patient and stone characteristics influencing treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • ESWL treatment administered on an outpatient basis.
  • Utilized intravenous analgesia and adjuvant bile acid therapy.
  • Patient selection based on oral cholecystography findings.

Main Results:

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  • No deaths reported; low incidence of serious complications related to biliary fragments.
  • ESWL demonstrated high safety and effectiveness for single gallstones ≤20 mm.
  • Poor efficacy observed for larger single stones and multiple gallstones.

Conclusions:

  • ESWL is a safe and effective option for select patients with small, single gallstones.
  • Limitations exist for treating larger or multiple gallstones with ESWL.
  • Lithotriptors for gallstone treatment are not yet FDA-approved in the United States.