title: [Guidelines of the German Society of Gastroenterology for the treatment of gallstones].
abstract: The vast majority of gallbladder stones are cholesterol stones. The natural course taken by these stones is benign. Only patients with symptomatic gallstones require treatment, mostly in the form of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Unlike gallstones, bile duct stones are treated during their symptomatic and asymptomatic stages. Endoscopic sphincterotomy is the treatment of choice for cholecystectomised patients. If patients have concomitant gallstones they should receive endoscopic sphincterotomy first (therapy splitting), at least according to the German consensus. Obstructive cholangitis should always be treated with endoscopic drainage procedures first.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik und Poliklinik I, Bonn. sauerbruch@uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sauerbruch
mesh_terms: D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000592:standards; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
vernacular_title: Leitlinien der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten zur Behandlung von Gallensteinen.