Noninvasive therapy of gallbladder calculi with a radiopaque rim.

Safety and efficacy of shock-wave lithotripsy and bile acid dissolution therapy of patients with gallbladder calculi with a radiopaque rim were evaluated. Eighty-six patients with symptomatic solitary stones were treated by this noninvasive therapy and were followed up to 18 months. Three different lithotripsy treatment modalities were used. Up to 1600 shock wave discharges were applied. Patients in group A (n = 20) were treated with an electrohydraulic water-bath lithotripter at a discharge voltage of 18 +/- 1 kV (mean +/- SD), group B patients (n = 25) were treated with an electrohydraulic water-cushion lithotripter at 19 +/- 2 kV, and group C patients were treated (n = 41) with the same lithotripter at 22 +/- 2 kV. Five to eight months after lithotripsy, 15% in group A were free of fragments compared with only 4% in group B (NS vs. group A), and 38% in group C had no stones (NS vs. group A; P = 0.007 vs. B). Thirteen to eighteen months after lithotripsy, the respective results were 59% in group A, 37% in group B (NS vs. group A), and 68% in group C (NS vs. group A; P = 0.05 vs. group B). Patients with fragments of less than or equal to 3 mm in diameter showed significantly better fragment clearance than those with larger fragments. The frequency of adverse effects was not significantly different between the three groups. Biliary colic occurred in 43% of the patients and mild biliary pancreatitis in 3 patients. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was required in 1 patient, and elective cholecystectomy was performed in 6 patients. Using a water-cushion lithotripter at high-power setting, selected patients with solitary gallbladder stones with a radiopaque rim may be treated safely and successfully by shock-wave lithotripsy combined with bile acid dissolution therapy.