Necrotizing choledochomalacia after use of monooctanoin to dissolve bile-duct stones

A 72-year-old man with choledocholithiasis, demonstrated radiologically, was treated by constant perfusion through the gallbladder of monooctanoin (glyceryl-1-monooctanoate) following cholecystostomy for a perforated gallbladder. The monooctanoin was given at a rate of 7.5 ml/h and monitored to ensure that delivery pressure did not rise above 20 cm H2O. Perfusion was carried out for 60 hours, but could not be continued because of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. This was followed by progressive jaundice, anorexia and fever. The patient was treated with penicillin G and cefoxitin intravenously and metronidazole orally, but he died 5 weeks after the perfusion. Autopsy showed acute pancreatitis and cholangitis, and a biliary tree filled with pus and a black biliary cast. No calculi were present. The authors consider the possible causes for this patient's death.