title: Percutaneous cholecystolithotomy: the first 60 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and possible complications of percutaneous removal of gall stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of the first 60 patients treated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The London Clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 Consecutive patients with symptomatic gall stones who agreed to have them removed percutaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  56 Patients had stones successfully removed percutaneously. In four patients failure of access necessitated a cholecystectomy under the same anaesthetic. Two patients had an empyema of the gall bladder drained initially, followed by a second operation to remove the stones one week later. Seven patients had postoperative complications, and two had recurrences of biliary calculi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The techniques and instruments used in percutaneous nephrolithotomy can successfully be adapted for percutaneous removal of gall stones. The procedure is suitable for a wider range of patients than other techniques that leave the gall bladder intact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, London Clinic.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chiverton
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hudd
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kellett
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wickham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical