1.   The absence of cholesterol crystals was confirmed with polarised light microscopy.

2.   Nucleation time, defined as the first appearance time of cholesterol monohydrate crystals, was measured as described by Holan et al with certain modifications.

3.   This increases biliary cholesterol content and favours nucleation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals.

4.   Biliary sludge contains cholesterol crystals, calcium bilirubinate granules, and very high concentrations of mucin glycoprotein, a putative nucleating agent.

5.   In some cases this procedure causes small blood clots, cholesterol crystals or other bits of debris to break free.