Total Attack Lithotripsy

  Total attack lithotripsy is mainly used for lithotripsy treatment for some patients with gallstones, especially for some extrahepatic bile duct stones.  The procedure of total attack therapy is that the patient first takes herbal lithotripsy soup to increase the amount of bile excreted. This is followed by the western drug morphine, which causes contraction of the lower sphincter of the common bile duct, resulting in bile retention and increased bile duct pressure. Finally, the smooth muscle dilating drug isoamyl nitrite, etc. and acupuncture stimulation are used to make the common bile duct sphincter open suddenly and the gallbladder contract strongly in a short period of time. Generally, eating fried eggs is induced to make a large amount of bile in the bile duct flush out together with gallstones to achieve the purpose of stone removal.  Strictly mastering the indications is the key to the success of total attack lithotripsy. First of all, ultrasound, CT and other examinations should be done on the patient to understand the specific situation of gallstones.  There are three elements of treatment: the location and size of the stone, good contractile function of the gallbladder, and the absence of stenosis in the lower end of the common bile duct. Generally, for intrahepatic bile duct stones, they should be less than 1 cm and the specific location should be considered; extrahepatic bile duct stones are about 1 to 1.5 cm; and gallbladder stones are in the size of 0.5 cm.  In general, patients often do not respond when small stones are expelled; when large stones are expelled, biliary colic and other stone expulsion reactions may occur. The sudden disappearance of abdominal pain, return to normal temperature, and remission of jaundice after the stone discharge reaction indicates that the stones have been discharged. If the stone evacuation reaction continues to worsen, it should be discontinued promptly and, if necessary, referred to surgery. The patient needs to be hospitalized for 2 to 3 weeks and the doctor will perform stone draining 1 to 3 times a week for a course of 4 to 6 times, depending on the patient’s physical condition. Most patients are discharged after one or two courses of treatment.