Cholelithasis

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is one nonsurgical method available to treat cholelithiasis. Optimal imaging of gallstones is crucial in assessment and treatment using ESWL. The purpose of this study was to see if placing the patient in the left anterior oblique (prone with the right side elevated) position, rotating the patient 360°, or doing both of these things made it easier to visualize and measure gallstones during ultrasound examination of patients both before and after lithotripsy. There was improvement in stone visualization in 29% of the cases in this study when one or the other of these positions was used.