IS EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY STILL JUSTIFIED AS A TREATMENT FOR GALLSTONES

This prospective study evaluates the results of extracorporal shock-wa ve piezoelectric lithotripsy in 52 patients, 41 with radiolucent and 1 1 with calcified shell gallstones. The fragmentation rate was above 90 % and the complication rate 31% particularly with pains or intolerance to the adjuvant dissolution therapy. At the end of the treatment, sev en cholecystectomies were carried out among the 31 patients for who li thotripsy failed. After 18 months, the success rate was 23% and 12 pat ients only remained stone free. Nowadays, thanks to the new laparoscop ic therapy, extracorporal shock-wave lithotripsy is no longer judged a ppropriate, especially because of its poor cost-effectiveness and high recurrence ratio.