Since there are now several ways to treat symptomatic gallstone disease, one is able to select treatment on the basis of the patient's comfort, the practicability, effectiveness, and side effects of the technique, and the relative costs.

In order to assess the present status of contact dissolution with methyl tert-butyl ether with regard to these aspects, the present enquiry reports the data of 21 European hospitals.

Eight hundred three patients were selected for contact litholysis of cholesterol gallbladder stones using methyl tert-butyl ether.

Percutaneous transhepatic puncture of the gallbladder was performed under x-ray or ultrasound guidance.

Dissolution rate, side effects, and treatment times of 268 patients from one single center were compared to those of 535 patients from the other 20 centers.

Two hundred sixty-four patients were followed for five years to assess stone recurrence.

Physicians were asked how they assessed the expenditure of the method, the discomfort to the patients, and the staffing situation.

Patients were asked to indicate their acceptance on an analog scale.

Puncture was successful in 761 (94.8%) patients

Prophylactic administration of antibiotics was not necessary.

Stones were dissolved in 724 (95.1%) patients

In 315 (43.5%) sludge remained in the gallbladder.

The most severe complication was bile leakage, which led 12 (1.6%) patients to have elective cholecystectomy.

Toxic injuries due to the ether were not reported. (...)