[Pathophysiologic aspects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy]

The function of the gallbladder in 48 patients with cholecystolithiasis who were subjected Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is reported in the paper. The measurements were obtained basing on ultrasonography before and after the treatment. The following parameters were estimated: maximal and minimal gallbladder volume, ejection time, ejection fraction and gallbladder ejection rate. It was concluded, basing on the obtained results, that the initial gallbladder function had no influence on the outcome of the treatment. The function of the gallbladder maintained weakened over the following six weeks after ESWL only in the patients in whom the treatment was unsuccessful.