Liver fibrosis after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy of gallbladder stones. A case report.
We encountered significant liver fibrosis in a healthy young patient undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disease. Twelve months prior to cholecystectomy the patient underwent multiple extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) sessions with adjuvant oral bile-acid therapy. Since the site of fibrosis corresponded clearly to the shock-wave transmission path, which was in accordance with animal studies, it was concluded that this liver fibrosis was a side effect of biliary ESWL. Based on these findings and the literature, we conclude that further assessment of the long-term safety of ESWL is still warranted, especially in patients undergoing multiple ESWL sessions.
Department of Surgery, University Hospital of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
P W
PW
Plaisier
J F
JF
Hamming
R L
RL
van der Hul
R
R
den Toom
H A
HA
Bruining
D000328:Adult; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology*