title: Repeated piezoelectric lithotripsy for gallstones with and without ursodeoxycholic acid dissolution: a multicenter study.
abstract: The use of bile acid dissolution therapy in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy of gallstones, remains controversial. Our study examined whether chemolitholysis after sufficient disintegration enhanced stone clearance within 6 months of the first lithotripsy. A total of 143 patients who developed one to three radiolucent stones measuring < or = 30 mm in diameter were randomly separated into two treatment groups: 47% were given lithotripsy alone, and 53% lithotripsy plus ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Repeated piezoelectric lithotripsy was given, with no limit on the total number of treatment sessions, to pulverize or disintegrate stones into fragments < 3 mm. Stones were disintegrated in 97% of all patients, and the fragments were < or = 2 mm in 50% of these patients. According to an intention-to-treat analysis, 52% in the lithotripsy alone group and 58% in the UDCA group were free of stones 6 months after the first lithotripsy (P = 0.61). Of the patients with fragments < or = 2 mm, 71% in the former and 86% in the latter group were free of stones 6 months after the first lithotripsy, with no significant difference between the groups. Biliary pain occurred in 25% of all patients, including 3 with acute cholecystitis. We concluded that the sufficient disintegration of gallstones achieved with repeated lithotripsy enhanced the early clearance of fragments, regardless of whether chemolitholysis was employed.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otho
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanimura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hihara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawai
mesh_terms: D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid