Splenic rupture following ESWL for a pancreatic duct calculus

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is an established and extensiv ely used treatment alternative for urinary calculi. It is also an establish ed method of dealing with pancreatic duct calculi complementing endoscopic techniques in selected cases. Three reports of splenic injury following and probably caused by ESWL for urinary calculi have previously been published . We report a case of splenic rupture presenting with life-threatening hemo rrhage 6 days after a single ESWL therapy session for pancreatic duct calcu li. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.