Safety and efficacy of high kV biliary lithotripsy: preliminary experience.

Despite intense interest in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, biliary lithotripsy (BL), by avoiding the need for general anesthesia, could remain a useful alternative in approximately 10% of patients with symptomatic gallstones. The poor stone clearance rates reported by the Dornier National Biliary Lithotripsy Study has led to disenchantment with biliary lithotripsy. However, the results may reflect the relatively low kV (18.7 +/- 1.7) used. We …