[Percutaneous cholecystolithotripsy].

Thirty-two high-risk patients with severe complicating conditions and gall bladder symptoms requiring treatment, including acute cholecystitis in 28 of the patients, were treated with percutaneous cholecystolithotripsy (PTCL). This intervention was carried out under general, regional or local anaesthesia and resulted in fragmentation and removal of the stones in 90% of the patients. Cholecystectomy proved necessary in three patients on account of perforation in two and formation of "steinstrasse" in the cystic duct in one. No other complications of puncture or lithotripsy occurred and the postlithotripsy drainage time was, on the average, ten days. It is concluded that the PTCL technique is a realistic therapeutic offer to high-risk patients with gall bladder stones requiring treatment and in whom laparoscopic cholecystectomy or mini-cholecystectomy are not considered suitable.