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Lithotripsy is a procedure involving the physical destruction of hardened masses like kidney stones, [1] bezoars [2] or gallstones, which may be done non-invasively. The term is derived from the Greek words meaning "breaking (or pulverizing) stones" ( litho- + τρίψω [tripso]).
Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy (EHL) is a medical procedure which uses targeted shockwaves to break up kidney stones and gallstones. [1] This form of extracorporeal lithotripsy is unique in that the shockwaves are produced by a vaporization bubble expanding and collapsing repeatedly, creating a pressure wave. [1]
In rare cases when surgery is not possible, medication can be used to dissolve the stones or lithotripsy can be used to break them down. [7] In developed countries, 10–15% of adults experience gallstones. [4] Gallbladder and biliary-related diseases occurred in about 104 million people (1.6% of people) in 2013 and resulted in 106,000 deaths.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy involves focused, high-energy ultrasound pulses that can be used to break solid masses into fragments. [10] This is often utilized to break up calculi such as kidney stones and gallstones into pieces small enough to be passed from the body without undue difficulty, a procedure known as lithotripsy. The success ...
Some of the passed fragments of a 1-cm calcium oxalate stone that was smashed using lithotripsy. The most common use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is for lithotripsy to treat kidney stones [3] (urinary calculosis) and biliary calculi (stones in the gallbladder or in the liver) using an acoustic pulse.
The presence of gallstones, usually visualized by ultrasound, generally necessitates a surgical treatment (removal of the gall bladder, typically via laparoscopy). [ 27 ] Removal of the gallbladder with surgery, known as a cholecystectomy , is the definitive surgical treatment for biliary colic.
The gallbladder can also be removed in order to treat biliary dyskinesia or gallbladder cancer. [7] Gallstones are very common but 50–80% of people with gallstones are asymptomatic and do not need surgery; their stones are noticed incidentally on imaging tests of the abdomen (such as ultrasound or CT) done for some other reason. [8]
Laser lithotripsy (LL) has been evaluated against Extracorporeal Shock Wave lithotripsy (ESWL), finding both to be safe and effective. [3] [4] ESWL may be safer for small stones (<10 mm), but less effective for 10–20 mm stones. [3]