LIVER FIBROSIS AFTER EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY OF GALLBLADDER STONES - A CASE-REPORT

We encountered significant liver fibrosis in a healthy young patient u ndergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disea se. Twelve months prior to cholecystectomy the patient underwent multi ple extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) sessions with adjuvan t oral bile-acid therapy. Since the site of fibrosis corresponded clea rly to the shock-wave transmission path, which was in accordance with animal studies, it was concluded that this liver fibrosis was a side e ffect of biliary ESWL. Based on these findings and the literature, we conclude that further assessment of the long-term safety of ESWL is st ill warranted, especially in patients undergoing multiple ESWL session s.