11. Gallstones and Pancreatitis Flashcards
What are gallstones made from?
Bile and sometimes calcium
What imaging is used to see gallstones?
Ultrasound
Calcified can be seen on x ray
What is cholelithiasis?
Stones in the gallbladder
What is choledocholithiasis?
Stones in the common bile duct
What are the predisposing factors to gallstones?
Older, female
Obesity, diabetes, high fat diet
High oestrogen
Gall bladder hypomobility
What are the causes of gall bladder hypomobility?
Low CCK due to rapid weight loss, bariatric surgery
What conditions cause gallstones to be predominantly bilirubin/pigment stones?
Crohn’s disease (both bilirubin and cholesterol stones)
Cirrhosis
Haemolysis
Parasites
What are the symptoms of gallstones?
Biliary colic
RUQ or epigastric pain lasting 30 mins to 4 hours
Radiating to back and right shoulder
What is the differential for gallstones?
Dyspepsia Peptic ulcer disease Acute pancreatitis Oesophageal pain MI
What are the complications associated with gallstones?
Acute cholecystitis
CBD obstruction
Mirizzi syndrome
Gall bladder adenocarcinoma
What are the consequences of CBD obstruction?
Obstructive jaundice
Ascending cholangitis
Acute pancreatitis
What is Mirizzi Syndrome?
Obstruction to CBD by external compression from impacted gallstones
What is acute cholecystitis?
Cystic duct obstruction causes stasis in the gall bladder and secondary infection
What are the signs and symptoms of acute cholecystitis?
Fever, high WCC
Nausea, vomiting and RUQ pain for days
Positive Murphy’s sign
No jaundice
What is the treatment for acute cholecystitis?
Fluid, analgesia, antibiotics
Cholecystectomy
What complications are associated with acute cholecystitis?
Empyema, mucocoele
Risk perforation and peritonitis
Fistula with duodenum