title: Current management of symptomatic gallstones.
abstract: Present medical alternatives for the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis have been shown to be safe but of limited efficacy. The only medical option approved by the Food and Drug Administration is dissolution with an oral agent. This therapy is appropriate for patients with mild or infrequent symptoms who are poor operative risks or have a low risk of recurrence (ie, long-term users of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents or those who have single stones). Now and for the foreseeable future, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the procedure of choice for treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004987:Ethers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents; D002635:Chenodeoxycholic Acid; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether