PIEZOELECTRIC EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY IN 93 PATIENTS WITH GALLSTONES

Ninety-three patients with gallstones were selected for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with a piezoelectric device (EDAP LT-01 ) to verify the efficacy and safety of this technique. Neuroleptoanalg esia with intravenous diazepam and phentanyl was performed in almost a ll patients. The treatment was combined with adjuvant litholytic thera py using oral ursodeoxycholic acid. Follow-up period was nine months. Piezoelectric ESWL was able to disintegrate radiolucent gallstones in 97.9% of cases. By the ninth month 68 patients (73.1%) were stone-free . Best results were obtained with single stones smaller than 20 mm. Af ter ESWL, surgical cholecystectomy was necessary in 2.1% of cases. Thi s study confirms the efficacy and safety of piezoelectric extracorpore al shock wave lithotripsy combined with ursodeoxycholic acid adjuvant therapy for selected cases of gallstone disease.