Impact of gallbladder status on the outcome in patients with retained bile duct stones treated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The use of endoscopic therapy in combination with lithotripsy techniques has become increasingly common in patients with complicated common bile duct stones. In many units, although this is controversial, cholecystectomy is then performed, because of possible subsequent cholecystitis and recurrence of choledocholithiasis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gallbladder status influences the long-term outcome in patients after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) of common bile duct stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Recruited for the study were 120 patients with an average age of 68 years (range 28 - 86). They were selected from 137 consecutive patients who presented to our department between January 1989 and June 1996 with complicated common bile duct stones, and in whom ESWL was necessary to achieve complete clearance of stones. Follow-up data were obtained from the patients and their general practitioners. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 4 years (range 3 - 9). A total of 37 patients had their gallbladder in situ (group A), while 83 had undergone cholecystectomy. Of these 83 patients, 27 had had a cholecystectomy after ESWL (group B), whereas 56 patients had already had the gallbladder removed when choledocholithiasis was diagnosed (group C). During follow-up, 36 patients (30 %) experienced some biliary symptoms. There were no significant differences in the incidence of recurrent biliary symptoms between the three groups. Re-exploration of the bile duct by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed 28 cases of recurrent bile duct stones. Recurrence developed more often in groups B and C, who had undergone cholecystectomy, without reaching statistical significance ( P = 0.077). In patients with an intact gallbladder (group A), there was no difference in the rate of recurrent biliary symptoms or stones between the patients with or without cholecystolithiasis. Operations were necessary in 28 patients; in only ten was this for biliary reasons. CONCLUSION: The intact gallbladder is not a risk factor for recurrent biliary complications after ESWL of common bile duct stones; therefore, as far as patients with complicated bile duct stones which require additional lithotripsy techniques are concerned, elective cholecystectomy after endoscopic clearance of the bile duct no longer seems appropriate.

Postprandial blood glucose latency after oatmeal is a valid screening test for diabetic gastropathy in type 1 diabetes, but not in type 2 diabetes.

Disordered gastric motility occurs frequently in diabetes mellitus. Gastric emptying time is abnormal in about 50% of diabetic patients and delayed emptying time is known as an important cause for brittle diabetes in type 1 diabetes. We compared the rise in blood glucose after a standardized meal (oatmeal test) as a noninvasive screening test for diabetic gastropathy with the noninvasive measurement of gastric emptying time with ultrasound in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. The test result was considered pathological if the rise of blood glucose after an initial steady state did not reach 20 mg/dl in the first 20 min after the meal (prolonged blood glucose latency). We found a sensitivity of 90% (58.7-99.8) and a specificity of 100% (71.5-100) for the oatmeal test in type 1 diabetes in the gastropathy screening. In type 2 diabetes we found a sensitivity of 13% (1.5-38.3) and a specificity of 78% (60-90.7) (95% CI). In conclusion, the oatmeal test seemed to be a good, noninvasive screening test in diabetic gastropathy in type 1 diabetes, but has no diagnostic value in type 2 diabetes. The causes for such a difference may be due to a different postprandial blood glucose regulation in type 2 diabetes compared to the beta-cell-depleted type 1 diabetes.

Treatment of difficult intrahepatic stones by using extracorporeal and intracorporeal lithotripsy techniques: 10 years' experience in 55 patients.

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic lithiasis still is a complicated disease and merits special attention during therapeutic intervention. Although resection of the affected liver lobe or segment is the best therapeutic option to completely remove the source of recurrent infection, the need for endoscopic treatment modalities is evident because hepatic resections are combined with a high morbidity and mortality rate. METHODS: Over a 10-year period (1988-1997) 55 patients with intrahepatic stones that were not accessible to routine endoscopic extraction were treated at our department. These patients underwent either extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (n=27) or intracorporeal electrohydraulic (n=12) or laser lithotripsy (n=16). RESULTS: Using these techniques, we achieved stone fragmentation in 33.3%, 41.6%, and 75%, respectively. With a combination of the different methods, more than 90% of intrahepatic stones could be removed endoscopically. Overall complication rate was 12.7%; complete recovery was achieved in all patients with conservative management. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic approach to intrahepatic lithiasis appears to be a useful alternative to surgery, with a lower morbidity and mortality. If endoscopic therapy fails, surgery is still possible.

Long term follow up of patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic stones treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

BACKGROUND: There have been conflicting reports as to whether pancreatic ductal drainage achieved by endoscopy and lithotripsy improves the clinical outcome of patients with chronic pancreatitis. AIMS: To determine the clinical outcome in patients with chronic pancreatitis who received extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and were followed up for two to eight years. METHODS: Eighty patients with severe chronic pancreatitis and endoscopically unretrievable obstructive stones underwent ESWL with a piezoelectric lithotripter between 1989 and 1996. Clinical status, relief of symptoms, further endoscopic or surgical interventions, and mortality were defined. RESULTS: Forty three (54%) patients were treated successfully with ESWL. The only feature associated with treatment success was the presence of a single stone rather than multiple stones. Successfully treated patients tended to experience less pain, although this did not reach statistical significance. A slight increase in weight was noted in our patients; however, there was no notable improvement in anomalous stools and diabetes mellitus. Five patients died due to extrapancreatic reasons. No pancreatic carcinomas developed. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL associated with endoscopic drainage is a safe technique that is particularly successful in patients with a single stone. However, pancreatic drainage by endoscopy and ESWL has almost no effect on pain in chronic pancreatitis. Furthermore, endoscopic management and ESWL does not prevent or postpone the development of glandular insufficiency.

[Value of ultrasound guided piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy in the treatment of pancreatic stones]. / Stellenwert der ultraschallgesteuerten piezoelektrischen Stosswellenlithotripsie in der Behandlung von Pankreasgangsteinen.

AIM: Most patients with pancreatic duct stones have been treated with lithotripters that use x-ray for stone targeting. We wanted to evaluate ultrasound guided lithotripsy in clinical use. METHODS: In a prospective clinical study 80 patients (62 men) with symptomatic obstructive chronic pancreatitis were treated with a piezoelectric lithotripter under ultrasound guidance (two in-line 4-MHz-Scanners). RESULTS: Stone targeting by ultrasound guidance was possible in 76 patients. Fragmentation succeeded in 53 patients (70%). Complete or partial stone clearance was achieved in 43 patients, a success rate of 54%. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound guided shock wave lithotripsy of pancreatic duct stones plays an important role in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

[Ultrasound-guided extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy of bile duct calculi]. / Ultraschallgesteuerte extrakorporale piezoelektrische Lithotripsie (EPL) von Gallenwegskonkrementen.

AIM: Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with underwater spark discharge and stone localisation via x-ray has become established in the treatment of difficult bile duct stones. First results with the piezoelectric lithotripter (EPL) in our department have also been promising. METHOD: Between 1989 and 1993 we were able to treat 79 patients (mean age 76 years) with problematic bile duct stones with the EPL. Twenty-seven patients had solitary stones, 52 patients presented with multiple stones. Seventy-one patients received a nasobiliary tube to decompress the biliary system. For extracorporeal lithotripsy, we used a piezoelectric lithotripter (Piezolith 2300, R. Wolf, Knittlingen, Germany). RESULTS: Visualisation of the stones by ultrasound and ensuing treatment were possible in 71 out of 79 patients (90%), and complete stone removal was achieved in 62 patients (78.5%) after 7,595 shock-waves were applied per patient on average. In 55 patients, endoscopic extraction of fragments was performed to avoid fragment complications. Nearly all patients in whom extracorporeal lithotripsy failed were cleared of their stones by additional use of intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy. Three patients received palliatively an endoprosthesis and two patients were referred to surgery. CONCLUSION: EPL with sonographic stone localisation and mild sedo-analgesia is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of difficult biliary tract calculi. It is a worthwhile alternative especially for elderly patients who would be at high risk on general anaesthesia.

Clinical comparison of extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL) and intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) in difficult bile duct stones. A prospective randomized trial.

Today, nearly 90% of common bile duct stones are extracted endoscopically. Problems are encountered if there are large stones or a duct stenosis. Extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL) as well as intracorporeal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) serve as an alternative to surgical intervention for those few patients in whom endoscopic measures have failed. A total of 35 patients with common bile duct stones in whom conventional endoscopic treatment had failed were selected on the condition that stone visualization through ultrasound was possible and that the papilla was within easy reach of the endoscope. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomly treated either by EPL or EHL. The average age of our patients was 73 years. The main reasons for failure of conventional endoscopy were due to the large size of the stones (13 patients), impacted stones (16), or the presence of a biliary stricture (6). In the EPL group, visualization of the stones by ultrasound and ensuing treatment were possible in 16 of 18 patients (89%); stones could be fragmented in 15 patients. In 13 patients, the biliary tree could then be completely freed of calculi; the success rate was 72% for all the patients (13 of 18). On average, the patients had 2.3 treatments on the lithotripter, and 3870 shock waves were applied per treatment. In the EHL group stones were successfully fragmented in 13 of 17 patients (76.5%). The average number of treatments was 1.4. Comparing both therapies, there was no difference in stone-free rates. In both groups, additional endoscopic interventions were necessary to clear the bile duct.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Can aspirin prevent gallstone recurrence after successful extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy?

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a feasible procedure for the treatment of gallbladder stones in humans. Well-selected patients can achieve stone-free rates in a high percentage. With the gallbladder in situ, these patients are at risk of stone recurrence. There is considerable evidence that aspirin prevents cholesterol gallstone formation in animal models and may prevent gallstone recurrence in man. We attempted to clarify the risk of gallstone recurrence after successful piezoelectric lithotripsy in patients taking either low-dose aspirin or no medication. The first 45 patients shown to be completely free from stones after ESWL were randomized into two groups. One group received 100 mg aspirin daily; the other group did not receive any further medical therapy. Patients were further examined on an average of 19.6 months and 21.9 months, respectively. In the aspirin group the recurrence rate was 18.2%, whereas 21.7% of the patients in the control group developed recurrent stones. Seventy-eight per cent of these patients also had a recurrence of biliary pain. By life-table analysis we had, after a follow-up period of 24 months, a stone recurrence rate of 25% (+/- 11) in the aspirin group and 34% (+/- 14) in the control group. Our results indicate that recurrence prophylaxis remains one of the central questions in ESWL. In this preliminary study, 100 mg of aspirin daily was not able to reduce the recurrence rate after successful ESWL. Further studies will have to show whether higher doses of aspirin or other ways of preventing gallstone after ESWL are possible.

ESWL and oral dissolution therapy. What factors influence results?

With the aim of identifying the criteria that have a decisive influence on the success of treatment of gallstones with ESWL and oral dissolution therapy, we investigated, in 117 patients, the stone-free rate as a function of sex, age, weight quotient, number of stones, total stone volume, and gallbladder function. The following inclusion criteria were applied: (1) the Munich criteria, (2) a follow-up period of at least 12 months, or (3) freedom from stones irrespective of the duration of the period of follow-up. Although, owing to the small number of cases involved, no significantly differing results were seen in the parameters investigated, clear tendencies were indeed observed. While age, sex, and weight quotient appear to have no influence on the stone-free rate, the number of stones, total stone volume, and gallbladder function do appear to have an effect on the results of treatment. Patients with solitary stones not more than 20 mm in diameter, and patients with a small total stone volume and good gallbladder function would appear to have the best chance of becoming stone-free within a short period of time, irrespective of age, sex, or girth.

Direct dissolution of gallstones with methyl tert-butyl ether by endoscopic cannulation of the gallbladder.

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) rapidly and effectively dissolves cholesterol gallbladder stones. Due to the invasive nature of transhepatic catheterization, we studied the safety and efficacy of MTBE stone dissolution, delivered by endoscopic, retrograde cannulation of the gallbladder. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was employed in patients with multiple stones, to increase contact surface area and facilitate dissolution. We successfully cannulated the gallbladder in 13/17 patients (76.5%) attempted, with no associated complications. After cannulation, MTBE lysis was then conducted on all patients, and 10/13 patients (77%) cannulated were either stone-free at completion, or had only residual gallbladder sludge. Predissolution ESWL successfully fragmented stones in 6/7 patients (86%) in which it was attempted. Both ESWL and MTBE were well tolerated by all patients. Endoscopic retrograde cannulation of the gallbladder and MTBE dissolution is a promising alternative for the treatment of gallbladder stones in patients who will not receive surgery.

[Extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy of intra- and extrahepatic bile duct stones]. / Extrakorporale piezoelektrische Lithotripsie von intra- und extrahepatischen Gallengangssteinen.

64 patients (27 men, 37 women; mean age 71 [27-90] years) with intra- or extrahepatic biliary stones, which could not be extracted endoscopically, underwent extracorporeal piezoelectric shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). The piezoelectric lithotripter which was used localizes the stones sonographically and the shock-waves are produced by a self-focusing sound generator consisting of 3,000 ceramic elements. The sonographic localization of the stones was successful in 57 patients (89%) and complete removal of stones was achieved in 49 (77%), after an average of 7,595 (1,000-30,800) shock-waves per patient. Spontaneous elimination of stone fragments occurred in 7 patients, while in 42 further endoscopic procedures (balloon catheter, Dormia basket, mechanical lithotripsy) were needed to remove stone fragments from the biliary tract. The only severe complication was cholangitis in two cases. It probably resulted from the associated lysis treatment. There was no case of pancreatitis and no death at 30 days. These data indicate that piezoelectric ESWL with sonographic stone localization is an effective method with few side effects for treating problematic biliary tract stones.

[Shockwave treatment of gallbladder stones. Current status of therapy]. / Stosswellenbehandlung von Gallenblasensteinen. Aktueller Stand der Therapie.

AIMS: Analysis of the results of piezoelectric lithotripsy of gallstones combined with subsequent dissolution therapy using chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid. DESIGN OF STUDY: Retrospective evaluation after 2 1/2 years application in the department; prospective study for stone recurrence with ASA. PATIENTS: A total of 246 patients with gallbladder stones selected on the basis of the Munich criteria; 171 patients were followed up for at least 24 months. RESULTS: With piezoelectric shockwave lithotripsy treatment can mostly be carried out without the need for analgesia. When the indication is strictly applied, a stone-free rate of almost 90% after one year can be achieved. To achieve this, regular use of bile acids for dissolution of the fragments remaining after lithotripsy is required. At the present time, our recurrence rate is around 14% after one and two years. The use of acetylsalicylic acid recurrent stone prophylaxis was of no benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy now forms a permanent part of the conservative therapeutic approach to cholecystolithiasis. The results obtained are largely dependent upon an accurate indication. Particularly suitable patients are those with solitary cholesterol stones in a properly functioning gallbladder.