NON-OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF GALL STONE DISEASE

        Medical treatment of gall stone disease is generally unsuccessful. The various options are oral bile salt therapy and contact dissolution therapy. Contact dissolution requires cannulation of gall bladder and infusion of organic solvent. Another technique is usage of extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). With these techniques the recurrence rate is up to 50%. Because of high recurrence rate these techniques are not practiced routinely. The widespread use, safety, and efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are the reasons for opting surgical procedures for gall stone disease.