F. Schreiber et al., SONOGRAPHICALLY-GUIDED EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE LITHOTRIPSY FOR PANCREATIC STONES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS, Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 11(3), 1996, pp. 247-251
Over a 2 year period, 10 patients with pancreatic stones due to alcoho
l induced chronic pancreatitis (proven by endoscopic retrograde pancre
atography) underwent extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Prior to sh
ockwave therapy, all patients underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy. Tar
geting of shockwave lithotripsy was exclusively performed under sonogr
aphic control. All patients were treated with a second generation elec
trohydraulic spark gap lithotriptor and fragmentation of concrements c
ould be achieved in all cases. Complete duct clearance was confirmed i
n seven patients by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography in one sessi
on, with endoscopic fragment extraction by basket and/or balloon cathe
ter. In three patients, balloon dilation of concomitant strictures loc
ated in the head of the pancreas was performed prior to fragment extra
ction. All stone-free patients showed no further symptoms over the fol
low-up period of 12 months. Three patients in whom complete extraction
of fragments was not successful experienced minor symptoms over the 1
2 month follow-up period.