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Lithotrity and Litholapaxy

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Abstract

Introduction and Objective

In the early nineteenth century, a trend arose that spread quickly to surgeons interested in bladder stone surgery that required new instrumentation to break stones instead of cut for them. This was an epic moment in the history of stone disease because it was a quantum leap of faith requiring surgeons to rethink the entire method. There were false starts and great philosophical battles to be fought before clear strategies could be developed and patient truly benefitted.

Methods

Reviewing the methods and writings of the founding fathers of lithotrity, we are able to appreciate the profound implications this new surgical approach to this ancient affliction caused. Civiale took a nascent idea and followed it relentlessly to develop an alternative to “cutting for the stone.” Others stormed into the new era but gradually realistic methods developed, and his pupil Sir Henry Thompson became one of the world’s expert lithotritists. But the new method would soon attract modifications, which in turn started new controversies.

Results

This represents a review of the writings by and about the foundations of lithotrity that can be stated to have begun on January 13, 1824, when Jean Civiale demonstrated his new method on a patient for the Academy of Medicine in Paris. The new methods literally spread like wildfire and attracted vociferous attacks as well as competitors and visits from foreign surgeons interested in Civiale’s methods and instruments.

Conclusions

In this chapter we will present the methods and instruments that allowed this group of surgeons to rapidly crush bladder stones and the controversies and advancements that followed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. American Urological Association, William P. Didusch Center for Urologic History, Linthicum, MD, USA

    Michael E. Moran MD

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  1. Michael E. Moran MD
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Moran, M.E. (2014). Lithotrity and Litholapaxy. In: Urolithiasis. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8196-6_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8196-6_19

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