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Biomedical subjects

U Leuschner

Publications and source records attributed to U Leuschner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Endoscopy, shockwave lithotripsy and local lysis in complicated pigmentary calculi of extra- and intrahepatic bile ducts].

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.

Adolescent↗

Gallstone dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether in 120 patients--efficacy and safety.

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.

Adult↗

[The effect of pH and amount of antacids on bile acid binding in a quasi-natural reflux milieu].

Bile acid adsorption may be one therapeutical mechanism of antacids. Little is known about the effect of pH and amount of antacid on bile acid adsorption. Therefore we carried out the following investigations using a lattice [correction of lettuce] layer antacid as a model substance. 5 ml of "quasi-natural reflux milieu" were mixed with 0.5, 1 or 2 ml of hydrotalcite and adjusted to pH 3, 5 or 7. The highest total bile acid adsorption was found at pH 3, the degree of bile acid adsorption correlated with bile acid lipophilicity, i.e. the most lipophilic and toxic bile acids are adsorbed best. High adsorption of lipophilic and particularly toxic bile acids even at low gastric pH may help to explain the good therapeutic effect of low-dose antacids in gastric ulcer.

Adsorption↗

Percutaneous transhepatic gallstone dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether in complicated stone diagnosis and gallbladder anomalies.

In a total of 117 successfully punctured patients with gallbladder stones that were to be treated with methyl tert-butyl ether, 11 showed shell-like structured concrements on the CT scan. In 2 patients, pigment stones and very old concrements were suspected. In these 13 patients solitary stones dissolved in 2.9 hours, multiple stones in 10.8 hours, which corresponds to the treatment time of the total group. In 4 patients we diagnosed cholesterol stones, but dissolution was very slow, suggesting that the stones were covered with pigment. In 21 patients we found marked gallbladder anomalies, such as extreme septation, two-chamber gallbladders, gallbladder diverticula with a wedged stone, or gallbladders in which the fundus was positioned cranially. In these patients puncture time was prolonged by 25%. However, since in all patients the stones dissolved in the same time as in the total group (solitary stones; 3.1 hours: multiple stones: 10.4 hours) and since in 33% there was also sludge in the gallbladder, shape variants of the gallbladder obviously have no influence on the stone type. Whether they induce recurrent stones more often than normal gallbladders cannot be assessed at present. Shape variants of the gallbladder and layered stones on CT scan, however, do not represent a contraindication to MTBE therapy.

Cholecystography↗

Gall stone dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether: how to avoid complications.

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.

Adult↗

[Percutaneous transhepatic litholysis--indications, results, risks].

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).

Chenodeoxycholic Acid↗

[Oral and direct lysis of gallbladder calculi. Competing or complementary procedures to shockwave lithotripsy?].

Non-surgical treatment of cholesterol gallstones is possible with oral chemolitholysis employing chenodeoxycholic acid (CDA) and/or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDA), oral chemolitholysis following ESWL and direct dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Oral chemolitholysis takes a long time (6-24 months), is suitable only for small stones (up to 1.5 cm) and has a success rate of 60-70%. Prior ESWL shortens the duration of oral treatment moderately and can be employed with larger (up to 3 cm) stones; it is, however, quite expensive. The new method of direct chemolysis of gallstones is rapid, very cheap, and effective (approx. 95% success rate), but is an invasive procedure. If previous results obtained with MTBE are confirmed, it could become a therapeutic alternative to cholecystectomy in the case of very large and multiple stones.

Administration, Oral↗

Ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cirrhosis: results of a controlled double-blind trial.

We studied the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on 18 women and 2 men with primary biliary cirrhosis, mainly stages I and II. After a 3-mo observation period, patients were randomized to a 9-mo treatment period with ursodeoxycholic acid, 10 mg/kg.day, or placebo. Two patients on placebo left the study. In all patients on ursodeoxycholic acid, mean values of serum glutamate dehydrogenase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase fell significantly by 48%-79% after 18-24 wk; 7 of 10 showed a mean decrease of 35% in immunoglobulin M after 24 wk. Prothrombin time, serum bilirubin, albumin, the antipyrin breath test, and plasma disappearance of indocyanine green were normal initially and did not change. Total serum bile acid concentrations increased; ursodeoxycholic acid became the predominant bile acid. No significant improvement occurred in the placebo group. Hepatic histology improved in 6 patients of the ursodeoxycholic acid group but deteriorated in 4 patients receiving placebo. In studies with erythrocyte membranes, changes in electron spin resonance revealed that ursodeoxycholic acid was less toxic than chenodeoxycholic or deoxycholic acid, and coaddition of ursodeoxycholic acid prevented their toxic effect.

Deoxycholic Acid↗