Densely calcified gallstone treated successfully with piezoelectric lithotripsy.

Abstract

A patient with biliary pain and a densely calcified gallbladder stone was treated successfully with piezoelectric extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. The gallstone was fragmented to particles of less than 1-2 mm in diameter in a single 1-h session. The procedure was performed in the outpatient setting and required no anesthesia or analgesia. Follow-up sonograms showed that clearance of residual fragments from the gallbladder had occurred within 1 wk. Our encouraging treatment result suggests the need for future research to be directed towards broadening the currently recommended criteria for biliary lithotripsy, which currently exclude treatment of densely calcified gallstones.

• Authors: M B ALbert, H Fromm, C M Shehan
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 98 Issue 3 Pg. 777-9 (Mar 1990) ISSN: 0016-5085 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2404828 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Biliary Tract Diseases (therapy)
• Calcinosis (diagnosis, therapy)
• Cholecystography
• Cholelithiasis (diagnosis, therapy)
• Colic (therapy)
• Gallbladder (pathology)
• Humans
• Lithotripsy (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Recurrence
• Ultrasonography