title: Dissolution of gallstones.
abstract: Gallstones represent a major health problem in western society. For symptomatic gallstones, cholecystectomy is the gold standard. A considerable number of patients, however, cannot tolerate or are unwilling to undergo surgery and anaesthesia. For these patients, dissolution therapy, administered either systemically ('oral dissolution') or directly into the gallbladder ('contact dissolution'), might be preferable. In this review, the possibilities and limitations of dissolution therapy are discussed. It is concluded that dissolution is a good alternative in selected symptomatic patients and that it is useful as adjuvant therapy after lithotripsy (ESWL) of gall-bladder stones.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Hospital, Dijkzigt, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Plaisier
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vergunst
authors.forename: O T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Terpstra
mesh_terms: D002210:Caprylates; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000628:therapy*; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004987:Ethers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005989:Glycerides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077222:Limonene; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013729:Terpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D004987:Ethers; D005989:Glycerides; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents; D013729:Terpenes; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid; D004492:Edetic Acid; D000077222:Limonene; C025343:monooctanoin