[Contact litholysis of gallstones with methyl tert-butyl ether in risk patients--a case report]

Publication

[Contact litholysis of gallstones with methyl tert-butyl ether in risk patients--a case report]

Journal Paper/Review - Jan 1, 2001

Hetzer Franc, Baumann M, Simmen H P

Units

Clinic for General, Visceral, Endocrine and Transplant Surgery

PubMed

11234317

Citation

Hetzer F, Baumann M, Simmen H. [Contact litholysis of gallstones with methyl tert-butyl ether in risk patients--a case report]. Swiss surgery = Schweizer Chirurgie = Chirurgie suisse = Chirurgia svizzera 2001; 7:39-42.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (Deutsch)

Journal

Swiss surgery = Schweizer Chirurgie = Chirurgie suisse = Chirurgia svizzera 2001; 7

Publication Date

Jan 1, 2001

Issn Print

1023-9332

Pages

39-42

Brief description/objective

INTRODUCTION: Before laparoscopic cholecystectomy and endoscopic therapy became gold standard the nonsurgical treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis, i.e. contact dissolution using methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE), was a valuable alternative. Even nowadays, stone dissolution may be helpful in critically ill patients. CASE REPORT: A 85-year-old man admitted in poor general condition due to cholangitis with septicemia following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with papillotomy and partial stone removement because of impending perforation of the gallbladder empyema was treated by a percutaneous cholecystostomy with a pigtail catheter. After clinical improvement a successful contact dissolution was initiated by irrigation of the common bile duct and gallbladder with MTBE. The patient is asymptomatic three months after treatment. DISCUSSION: Symptomatic cholelithiasis is usually treated by endoscopic techniques. Percutaneous cholecystostomy in association with contact litholysis using MTBE is an effective treatment in patients who can not be operated due to critical conditions. The success rate in case of cholesterol stones averages 70 to 95% depending on number and size of stones. It is a non-invasive treatment with few side effects. CONCLUSION: In high-risk patients with severe cholecystitis, percutaneous catheter cholecystostomy combined with contact litholysis using MTBE is a successful, safe, and cheap treatment.