Plasma levels and urinary excretion of lormetazepam (Noctamid ®-ampoules; 2 mg/10 ml) were studied after i.v. (0.015 mg/kg b.w.) and after p.o (0.03 mg/kg b.w.) administration of the drug to five patients with cirrhosis of the liver (C) and to five young male volunteers (N).

Endoscopy, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) and local lysis with alkaline solution of EDTA and bile salts in water were applied in combination in four patients with extra- and intrahepatic pigment stones as well as calcium bilirubinate covered concrements of the biliary tract. In the first patient (a man aged 80 years) a giant concrement of the bile duct was broken up after ESWL by three weeks of local chemical lysis and the fragments were removed by endoscopy. In the second case (man, aged 72), a nonextractable pigment stone was at first reduced in size by four-day local lysis and then removed endoscopically. Intrahepatic pigment stones were completely removed in the other two patients (boy of 12, man of 62) by local lysis only in 3 and 15 weeks, respectively. Even long-term use of the alkaline solution may not cause any serious side effects. Breaking up of stones after size reduction with ESWL of giant stones, size reduction of intact stones and contact lysis of intrahepatic stones are three important indications for chemical dissolution of biliary tract stones, respectively.

In 15 patients (13 women and two men) with cholesterol stones in the gall-bladder a special (Thistle) catheter was introduced into the gall-bladder under local anaesthesia by percutaneous transhepatic puncture. Methyl-tert-butyl ether, 2-15 ml, was injected via the catheter and removed again after 2 min. The number of stones per gall-bladder averaged 6.3 (1-20), size of stones 1.7 cm (0.5-2.8 cm), and duration of treatment 11.9 h (5-24 h). The stones dissolved in 13 patients (87%). In three patients stone débris remained: in one it was ultimately sucked out after reduction of the amount of débris with an EDTA-containing solution. The side effects of treatment--nausea and vomiting--were minor. In one patient there was a leak of bile from the gall-bladder after the procedure; a cholecystectomy was uneventfully performed. Another patient developed haemobilia which responded to conservative treatment. MTBE treatment has thus proved to be a successful and cheap method, low in side effects, in the treatment of patients with gall-stones.

Journal of Gastroenterology and HepatologyVolume 9, Issue 1 p. 87-98 Pathogenesis of pigment stones and medical treatment U. LEUSCHNER, Corresponding Author U. LEUSCHNER Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanyU. Leuschner, Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.Search for more papers by this authorS. GÜLDÜTUNA, S. GÜLDÜTUNA Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorA. HELLSTERN, A. HELLSTERN Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanySearch for more papers by this author U. LEUSCHNER, Corresponding Author U. LEUSCHNER Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanyU. Leuschner, Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.Search for more papers by this authorS. GÜLDÜTUNA, S. GÜLDÜTUNA Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorA. HELLSTERN, A. HELLSTERN Center of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanySearch for more papers by this author First published: February 1994 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.1994.tb01222.xCitations: 10AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume9, Issue1February 1994Pages 87-98 RelatedInformation

The aim of the study was to establish the efficiency of cholesterol gallstone dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether in a large group of patients and to compare the results of patients treated manually by a nurse or using an automatic pump. Gallbladder puncture was successful in 228 patients (99%). After 9 hr, 211 patients (91%) were stone-free; 144 (68%) of them left the hospital on the fourth day. In radiolucent stones not isodense with bile on a CT scan, dissolution rate decreased by 10%, treatment time was prolonged by 40%. Forty-two of the 228 patients were selected for the hand-syringed group, 42 patients, who matched these patients in stone size and number, were treated with an automatic pump (Baxter). Stone burden in matched pairs was comparable. Stones dissolved in 96% of the patients in both groups. Sludge remained in the gallbladder in 52% after manual treatment and 60% after automatic therapy. Side effects were identical in both groups. None of the side effects were pump-related. Automatic therapy reduced the time needed by the nurse to treat each patient by 70%.

The biliary excretion and apparent oral clearance of metoclopramide (MCL) were determined after oral administration of 1 mg MCL/kg body weight to 10 patients suffering from extrahepatic cholestasis with nasobiliary tube for drainage of the common bile duct. A bilioduodenal endoprosthesis was subsequently fitted in 6 of these patients, i.e. the enterohepatic circulation was restored, and the apparent oral clearance was re-determined.

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is an excellent solvent for cholesterol stones. We treated 232 patients by continuous infusion and aspiration of MTBE manually or machine-assisted via percutaneous transhepatic catheter. Catheter placement was successful in 99%. Stones dissolved in more than 95%. Stone recurrence seems to be as high as is known for oral litholysis. We conclude that dissolution of cholesterol stones in the gall-bladder by MTBE is technically easy, highly effective, and safe.

Endoscopy, extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and local lysis with alkaline solution of EDTA and bile salts in water were applied in combination in four patients with extra- and intrahepatic pigment stones as well as calcium bilirubinate covered concrements of the biliary tract. In the first patient (a man aged 80 years) a giant concrement of the bile duct was broken up after ESWL by three weeks of local chemical lysis and the fragments were removed by endoscopy. In the second case (man, aged 72), a nonextractable pigment stone was at first reduced in size by four-day local lysis and then removed endoscopically. Intrahepatic pigment stones were completely removed in the other two patients (boy of 12, man of 62) by local lysis only in 3 and 15 weeks, respectively. Even long-term use of the alkaline solution may not cause any serious side effects. Breaking up of stones after size reduction with ESWL of giant stones, size reduction of intact stones and contact lysis of intrahepatic stones are three important indications for chemical dissolution of biliary tract stones, respectively.

Endoscopy, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) and local lysis with alkaline solution of EDTA and bile salts in water were applied in combination in four patients with extra- and intrahepatic pigment stones as well as calcium bilirubinate covered concrements of the biliary tract. In the first patient (a man aged 80 years) a giant concrement of the bile duct was broken up after ESWL by three weeks of local chemical lysis and the fragments were removed by endoscopy. In the second case (man, aged 72), a nonextractable pigment stone was at first reduced in size by four-day local lysis and then removed endoscopically. Intrahepatic pigment stones were completely removed in the other two patients (boy of 12, man of 62) by local lysis only in 3 and 15 weeks, respectively. Even long-term use of the alkaline solution may not cause any serious side effects. Breaking up of stones after size reduction with ESWL of giant stones, size reduction of intact stones and contact lysis of intrahepatic stones are three important indications for chemical dissolution of biliary tract stones, respectively.

Of 612 patients with cholesterol gallbladder stones, 120 were eligible for percutaneous transhepatic litholysis with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Puncture of the gallbladder was successful in 117/120 (97.5%). In 113/117 (96.6%) the stones dissolved. With solitary stones, treatment lasted for an average of 4 hr, with multiple stones 10 hr. Mean hospitalization was 3.6 days. In 3/117 (2.6%) patients a bile leakage developed; 33% reported mild complaints. After the end of treatment 34% had some residue in the gallbladder; two of these patients developed recurrent stones. MTBE is exhaled, is distributed in fatty tissue, and is excreted renally together with its metabolite tert-butanol. Methanol was found only in traces. Gallbladder histology of six patients showed chronic cholecystitis. Since these findings were independent of treatment time and the interval between treatment end and operation, they are most consistent with stone-related changes rather than caused by MTBE.

A total of 170 patients with symptomatic cholesterol stones in the gallbladder were scheduled for percutaneous transhepatic dissolution with MTBE. Puncture was successful in 167/170 patients; stones dissolved in 161/167. The treatment of solitary stones averaged 3.9 hours, whereas multiple stones required 9.6 hours. The mean hospitalisation time was 3.6 days. After litholysis 1/3 of the patients had sludge in the gallbladder; most of them were free of residue after treatment for 3 months with UDC/CDC. Complications included hemobilia in 2/167, perforation in 1/167 and bile leakage in 7/167 (5 had surgery).

Fifty of 52 patients with cholesterol gall bladder stones were treated with methyl tert-butyl ether. In 48 of 50 (96%) patients the stones dissolved after an average interval of 9.5 hours. Mean stone size was 1.7 cm (0.5-3.3 cm), mean stone number was 14.6 (1-70). Twelve patients (24%) complained of nausea, a burning sensation, or vomiting. In one patient bile leakage occurred and another suffered haematobilia (4%). The puncture set was improved, and a special basket was developed to extract stones that had escaped into the cystic duct. To prevent bile leakage or haemorrhage from the incision channel, a tissue adhesive was injected into the channel or ceruletid was administered subcutaneously before removing the catheter to induce contraction of the gall bladder. Thus we were able to treat 44 patients without any complications. Nausea and vomiting could be reduced if the treatment time was kept short and the perfusion volume was as low as possible. Methyl tert-butyl ether treatment is a successful treatment of gall bladder stones with few complications.