Biological effects of extracorporeal shock waves

Abstract

Extracorporeal shock waves are used in medicine to destroy kidney stones and gallstones. In the body, they can affect tissues. These effects have been examined in many organs and generally consist of hemorrhages, destruction of venous walls, and venous thrombi. Tissue effects and stone destruction were considered to be due to a direct shock-wave effect or to cavitation; some experiments are presented which point to the involvement of cavitation as a mechanism of both tissue damage and stone destruction. A model of shock-wave action that could explain the observed effects is proposed.<>