Chemical ablation of the gallbladder using alcohol in cholecystitis after palliative biliary stenting.

Abstract

Chemical ablation of the gallbladder is effective in patients at high risk of complications after surgery. Percutaneous gallbladder drainage is an effective treatment for cholecystitis; however, when the drain tube cannot be removed because of recurrent symptoms, retaining it can cause problems. An 82-year-old woman presented with cholecystitis and cholangitis caused by biliary stent occlusion and suspected tumor invasion of the cystic duct. We present successful chemical ablation of the gallbladder using pure alcohol, through a percutaneous gallbladder drainage tube, in a patient who developed intractable cholecystitis with obstruction of the cystic duct after receiving a biliary stent. Our results suggest that chemical ablation therapy is an effective alternative to surgical therapy for intractable cholecystitis.

• Authors: Tae-Hoon Lee, Sang-Heum Park, Sang-Pil Kim, Ji-Young Park, Chang-Kyun Lee, Il-Kwun Chung, Hong-Soo Kim, Sun-Joo Kim
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 15 Issue 16 Pg. 2041-3 (Apr 28 2009) ISSN: 2219-2840 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19399941 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ethanol

Topics

• Ablation Techniques
• Aged, 80 and over
• Bile Duct Neoplasms (complications, surgery)
• Cholecystitis (etiology, surgery)
• Cholecystostomy (adverse effects, methods)
• Ethanol (pharmacology)
• Female
• Gallbladder (drug effects, surgery)
• Humans
• Stents (adverse effects)