1993 Volume 54 Issue 11 Pages 2872-2876
The efficacy of non-operative treatment, especially PTGBCSL (Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangioscopic Lithotripsy of the Gallbladder) for acute calculous cholecystitis has been studied. Among 57 patients with acute calculous cholecystitis treated at the department in a past 17-year period, 37 patients underwent elective operation and 20 patients were treated non-operatively. Of the 20 patients, 4 underwent PTGBA and 5, PTGBCSL. Five patients undergoing PTGBCSL were very old and had some coexisting disease. Complete lithotripsy was successfully attained by PTGBCSL in all the 5 patients, without severe complications. There has been no recurrence of gallstones up to now. PTGBCSL is a less-invasive technique capable of bringing complete lithotripsy without severe complications. It is indicated for aged patients with some risk factors. As the gallbladder is preserved in PTGBCSL, there remains a possibility of recurrence of gallstones. Some reports point out that the longer the course after lithotripsy passes, the more increase the recurrent cases. So complete follow-up is mandatory.
