Gallstone recurrence after shock-wave therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The long-term outcome of nonoperative gallstone therapy depends on both absence of stones and absence of biliary pain. The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of stone recurrence and the rate of symptoms within 5 years after successful shock wave lithotripsy combined with bile acid therapy.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive patients (single stones, n = 89; 2 or 3 stones, n = 11) were followed up for a median of 4.3 years after stone disappearance and discontinuation of bile acids.


RESULTS
Twenty-three of the 100 patients developed recurrent stones. Calculated by actuarial analysis, the recurrence rate was 7% +/- 3%, 11% +/- 3%, 13% +/- 4%, 20% +/- 5%, and 31% +/- 7% (mean +/- SD) at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively. The recurrent stones were small (6 +/- 5 mm) and were associated with recurrent biliary pain in 14 (61%) of the 23 patients. Repeated shock wave lithotripsy and/or bile acid medication resulted in stone disappearance in only 10 of 20 patients with recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
The long-term rate of stone recurrence after lithotripsy of primarily solitary gallbladder calculi is lower than expected from post-bile acid dissolution trials. Recurrence of stones frequently is associated with recurrence of biliary pain.
Sackmann
M
M
Department of Medicine II, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
Niller
H
H
Klueppelberg
U
U
von Ritter
C
C
Pauletzki
J
J
Holl
J
J
Berr
F
F
Neubrand
M
M
Sauerbruch
T
T
Paumgartner
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011336:Probability; D012008:Recurrence; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid