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By using 16-F self-retaining feeding catheters, fluoroscopically guided percutaneous gastrostomy was performed in 68 consecutive adult patients without the use of gastric fixation devices. Short-term (2-week) follow-up of all patients was available, with 30-day follow-up obtained in 94% of the study group (n = 64). Thirty-day mortality was 12%, with no procedure-related deaths. Major and minor morbidity rates were 4.7% and 7.8%, respectively. The mean procedure time was 7 minutes. These data compared favorably with those of series employing smaller catheters placed with and without the use of gastropexy, as well as surgical gastrostomy and gastropexy procedures. Percutaneous placement of large-caliber (16-F) gastrostomy catheters is safe, effective, and rapid in the adult population and can be accomplished routinely without the use of prior gastropexy.

The in vitro effectiveness of three new cholesterol gallstone solvents that have a potential for clinical use--ethyl propionate, isopropyl acetate, and n-propyl acetate--was compared with that of the well-known cholesterol solvent methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Ten sets of matched gallstones were initially weighed, imaged with radiography and computed tomography (CT), and analyzed for content. One stone from each set was incubated in one of the four solvents at 37 degrees C. Solvents were changed at 30-minute intervals. The study was stopped either when the stones were completely dissolved or at the end of 7 hours. Any residual fragments were weighed, reimaged, and reanalyzed for content. There were no statistical differences between dissolution times of the stones in MTBE compared with those in the three new solvents. Ethyl propionate and n-propyl acetate appear to be as efficacious as MTBE in dissolving cholesterol stones and could be attractive alternatives for gallstone chemolysis.