title: Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and the management of common bile-duct calculi.
abstract: Endoscopic sphincterotomy is the treatment of first choice for stones that remain in the bile duct after cholecystectomy. There is a small group of patients in whom this technique is not successful; many of these patients carry a high risk for surgery because of their age or associated medical conditions. A variety of non-surgical techniques is available; however, none is well established. We have used an in-vitro model to show that human gallstones are fragmented readily by shock-wave lithotripsy. Two elderly frail patients with difficult bile-duct stones have been treated successfully by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. The bile ducts were cleared of stones and the patients suffered no adverse effects. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is a new and promising alternative to the current non-surgical techniques for the management of bile-duct stones.
authors: Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC.
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Speer
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Webb
authors: N A
authors: NA
authors: Collier
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: McHutchinson
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: St John
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: Clunie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography