The effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on pancreatic enzymes

In order to assess the effect of electromagnetic shock waves on pancreatic tissue, we studied serum and urinary amylase and serum lipase levels prior to, 1 hour, 1 day and 1 week after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in 150 patients with upper urinary tract stones. A control group consisted of 22 patients with lower ureteric stones who underwent ESWL. All three parameters increased after ESWL (p<0.001), however, this increase was within normal laboratory limits. There was no difference between the right and left renal units. In the control group there was no change of pancreatic enzymes after ESWL. High energy shock waves may cause some elevations of pancreatic enzymes, probably due to altered cell membrane permeability, however, ESWL with an electromagnetic shock wave emitter system does not cause significant injury to the pancreatic tissue.