Ultrasonic fragmentation of gallstones in vitro.

With a Wolf Ultrasonic lithotrite, gallstones from 12 patients were fragmented in vitro. The average fragmentation time was 20 seconds compared with 4 days when they could be dissolved by monooctanoin. A stone from one patient could not be fragmented successfully. The ability of ultrasound to fragment gallstones did not depend on their cholesterol content. Ultrasonics may have an important role in the treatment of biliary stones, especially pigment stones.