title: Combination of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and dissolution of gallbladder stones with methyl tert-butyl ether: a randomized study.
abstract: We conducted a prospective randomized study in gallstone patients to determine whether a combination of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and subsequent dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether increases the success rate of methyl tert-butyl ether dissolution and shortens treatment time compared with monotherapy with methyl tert-butyl ether. Fifty patients were randomized into two groups. Twenty-five patients underwent extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy before contact dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether, and 25 patients were treated with methyl tert-butyl ether alone. All patients had at least three stones or stones larger than 30 mm that were radiolucent on x-ray and had densities of less than 140 Hounsfield Units (HU) on computed tomography. Overall, the combined approach neither shortened the treatment time significantly vs. monotherapy with methyl tert-butyl ether nor reduced the time of hospitalization. The success rate was slightly but not significantly increased compared with that of methyl tert-butyl ether therapy alone. The recurrence rate was similar in the two groups after a median follow-up of 1 yr. However, when subgroups of patients with at least one stone larger than 15 mm or with stones with densities of more than 60 HU were analyzed, the clearance rate after 5 mo was significantly higher (p < 0.005 and p < 0.025, respectively) in patients subjected to a combination of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and methyl tert-butyl ether dissolution. Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and methyl tert-butyl ether did not expose patients to more adverse effects than did treatment with methyl tert-butyl ether alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neubrand
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sackmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Klüppelberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pauletzki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paumgartner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sauerbruch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000628:therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004987:Ethers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D008738:Methyl Ethers; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; D002784:Cholesterol