title: Contact dissolution of cholesterol gallstones with organic solvents.
abstract: Contact dissolution of cholesterol gallstones with organic solvents is emerging as a rapid, safe, alternative treatment for symptomatic cholesterol gallbladder stones. Placement of a percutaneous transhepatic catheter into the gallbladder is a rapid and safe technique. The availability of safe, effective cholesterol solvents and solvent transfer devices means that cholesterol gallbladder stones can be eliminated rapidly and safely by CDOS, without the risk of general anesthesia or surgical dissection of the gallbladder bed. Patients with single gallstones are better candidates for CDOS than are patients with multiple gallstones because recurrence after dissolution is less common. Contact dissolution may well be judged the treatment of choice by the medical-surgical gallstone management team in some patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Schteingart
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: vanSonnenberg
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Esch
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Zakko
mesh_terms: D002210:Caprylates; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000628:therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D004987:Ethers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005989:Glycerides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D004987:Ethers; D005989:Glycerides; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; D002784:Cholesterol; C025343:monooctanoin