Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the treatment of biliary stones

From Sep. 1988 to Dec. 1989, 163 patients with gallstones and 7 with choledocholith were treated by biliary extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). After lithotripsy, ursodeoxycholic acid was administered in 74 patients, and self-made lithoexpulsive in 44 patients. The remaining 52 patients were given both ursodeoxycholic acid and lithoexpulsive. The total rate of stone fragmentation was 97.6%. One hundred and twenty patients were followed up after ESWL. Biliary stones disappeared in 26.6% of the patients within one month after ESWL, in 33.3% within one to three months, and in 36.6% within six to eight months. There were no severe complications. 10.1 percent of the patients had abdominal discomfort during the procedure of ESWL, and cutaneous petechiae were found in 12.2% of the patients. Other complications included biliary colic in 6, jaundice in 2, and hematuria in 2. Serum enzymology and chest X-ray remained unchanged after ESWL.