Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy of gallstones in cystic duct remnants and Mirizzi syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Although the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for treatment of bile duct calculi is established, there are few studies of the value of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for cystic duct remnant stones and for Mirizzi syndrome.


METHODS
Patients who required extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for cystic duct stones were identified in a cohort of 239 patients with bile duct stones treated by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy between January 1989 and December 2001 at a single institution. The medical records of these patients were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone contact.


METHODS
Six women (age range 19-85 years) underwent extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for cystic duct stones after failure of endoscopic treatment measures. Three of the patients presented with retained cystic duct remnant calculi (one also had Mirizzi syndrome type I), and 3 presented with Mirizzi syndrome type I. The stones were fragmented successfully by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in all patients; the fragments were extracted endoscopically in 5 patients. Endoscopy plus extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy was definitive treatment for all patients except one who subsequently underwent cholecystectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Gallstones in a cystic duct remnant and in Mirizzi syndrome can be successfully treated by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in conjunction with endoscopic measures. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is especially useful when surgery is contraindicated.
Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Ulmenweg 18, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Johannes
J
Benninger
Thomas
T
Rabenstein
Michael
M
Farnbacher
Jens
J
Keppler
Eckhart G
EG
Hahn
H Thomas
HT
Schneider
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D003549:Cystic Duct; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017562:Postcholecystectomy Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome