The National Cooperative Gallstone Study Report: A Surgeon's Perspective
Authors: CHARLES K. MCSHERRY
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1981)

Editorials1 September 1981The National Cooperative Gallstone Study Report: A Surgeon's PerspectiveCHARLES K. MCSHERRY, M.D.CHARLES K. MCSHERRY, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-95-3-379 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIt is difficult to comment on the long-awaited report (1) of the close to $11 million study of the effectiveness of chenodiol (chenodeoxycholic acid) to dissolve cholesterol gallstones without incorporating some elements of personal prejudice. This prejudice is born of a career-long interest in promoting and documenting the efficacy and safety of surgery for calculous biliary tract disease. In the final analysis, the success or failure of chenodiol therapy must be judged against the standard of surgical accomplishment, cholecystectomy.Over the past 4 decades, Dr. Frank Glenn has accumulated an institutional experience of almost 15 000 patients treated surgically for...References1. SCHOENFIELDLACHIN LJ. Chenodiol (chenodeoxycholic acid) for dissolution of gallstones: The National Cooperative Gallstone Study: a controlled trial of efficacy and safety. Ann Intern Med. 1981;95:257-82. LinkGoogle Scholar2. GLENNHAYS FD. The causes of death following biliary tract surgery for nonmalignant disease. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1952;94:283-96. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. GLENNMCSHERRY FC. Etiological factors in fatal complications following operations upon the biliary tract. Ann Surg. 1963;157:695-706. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MCSHERRYGLENN CF. The incidence and causes of death following surgery for nonmalignant biliary tract disease. Ann Surg. 1980;191:271-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. GLENNMCSHERRYDINEEN FCP. The morbidity of surgical treatment for nonmalignant biliary tract disease. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1968;126:15-26. MedlineGoogle Scholar6. PALMER R. Toxic effects of lithocholate on the liver and biliary tree. In: TAYLOR W, ed. The Hepatobiliary System. New York: Plenum Publishing Corp. 1976;227-40. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. MORRISSEYMCSHERRYSWARMNIEMANDEITRICK KCRWJ. Toxicity of chenodeoxycholic acid in the nonhuman primate. Surgery. 1975;77:851-60. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Beth Israel Medical Center New York, New York PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByManagement of gallstones in a district general hospitalGALLSTONE-DISSOLVING AGENTSAppropriateness of cholecystectomy in the United Kingdom--a consensus panel approach.Gallstone DissolutionIntervention for gallbladder diseaseDissolution of cholesterol gallstones using methyl tert-butyl etherMedical management of gallstonesAgents for gallstone dissolutionA primer on gallstonesAgents for gallstone dissolutionMedical Dissolution of GallstonesThe National Cooperative Gallstone Study and current management of cholesterol cholelithiasis—Two viewsThe National Cooperative Gallstone Study and current management of cholesterol cholelithiasis—Two viewsCholelitholytic agentsDrugs used in the management of gallstonesUrsodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of cholesterol cholelithiasis part IIWho needs urso?An Optimistic View of the National Cooperative Gallstone StudyProspects for Chenodiol TherapyBEN E. GREENWELL, PH.D. 1 September 1981Volume 95, Issue 3Page: 379-380KeywordsBiliary systemCholecystectomyCholesterolSafetySurgery Issue Published: 1 September 1981 PDF DownloadLoading ...