Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) of gallbladder stones: Experience in Bolzano

During a period of 24 months, 115 patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones (77 females, 38 males; median age 46 years, range 22-87) were treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with a Lithostar Plus, Concomitant bile acid dissolution therapy (ursodeoxycholic acid+chenodeoxycholic acid 7,5mg/kg/day each or tauroursodesoxycholic acid 5-10mg/kg/day) was administered until 3 months after total fragment clearance, Complete clearance of all fragments was obtained after 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months in, respectively, 30, 45, 51, 62 and 72%, Life table analysis of the subgroups showed significantly better clearance results in patients with fragments <5mm at the first extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy session (67%) than in patients with larger fragments (39%) (p<0,01), Patients with solitary stones <20mm cleared their fragments better (58%) at 12 months than those with multiple stones (49%), but the differences were not statistically significant, Stone recurrence was 6% at 1 year and was lower in patients with solitary stones (3%) than in those with multiple stones (12%), Major side effects consisted in 2 cases of mild acute pancreatits and 19% of biliary colics.