title: New options for treating gallstone disease.
abstract: Gallstone disease is a major health problem in the United States and in most Western countries. During the past century, cholecystectomy has been the treatment of choice. Recently, new modalities of treatment have been developed, including oral dissolution therapy, extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, percutaneous transhepatic cholecystolitholysis using methyl tert-butyl ether, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In selected patients, these new options have been successful in the treatment of gallstones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Farha
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Beamer
mesh_terms: D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004987:Ethers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012307:Risk Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether