Dissolution of gallstones using cholecystostomy tube in the pig.

Cholecystostomy catheters and human cholesterol gallstones were implanted surgically in the gallbladders of eight pigs. Through the catheters, mono-octanoin or sterile water (H2O) was infused from two to seven days. The mono-octanoin dissolved pure cholesterol gallstones smaller than 200 g. There was no stone dissolution with infusion of sterile water and only one stone larger than 250 g was dissolved with mono-octanoin. Side effects included moderate-to-severe inflammation and ulceration of the gallbladder with mono-octanoin instillation, which precludes its widespread use with the present treatment regimen. Infusion of water caused little gallbladder irritation.