Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of pancreatic duct stones.

The purpose of endoscopic therapy in chronic pancreatitis is to decompress the main pancreatic duct and to remove the obstacles that impede the ductal flow of pancreatic juice. The availability of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has improved the results of endoscopic drainage of the main pancreatic duct and has also expanded the indications of endoscopic therapy for chronic pancreatitis. This article briefly reviews ESWL for pancreatic duct stones in patients with chronic pancreatitis, including our experience with ESWL. ESWL is an effective and safe procedure for endoscopically unremovable main pancreatic duct stones, and, in selected patients, ESWL alone may be effective.