[Current treatment methods in cholelithiasis: the "Zürcher indications"]

Abstract

The increasing number of therapeutic modalities and growing experience in the treatment of gallstones involve continuous changes in the indications and contraindication of each method. The advantages of the conservative, non-surgical and interventional procedures are that patients can become free of symptoms and stones without the use of general anaesthesia or surgery, however, there is the risk of recurrence. On the other hand, invasive surgical methods provide a definitive solution to the problem by removal of the focus, eliminating the risk of recurrent disease. To our opinion, it is important to offer as many therapeutic modalities possible to be selected as individual treatment by patients and physicians.