A/20 Flashcards
What are stones?
crystals made of inorganic materials
3 things needed for formation of stones
- supersaturation
- surface / core on which the crystal builds
- lack of stabilizing factors
Name for gallstones in the gallbladder?
cholelithiasis
2 types of gallstones
- cholesterol stones (crystalline cholesterol)
2. pigment stones (bilirubin calcium salts)
Name of stones in the common bile duct
choledocholithiasis
Where are cholesterol stones formed?
only in the gallbladder
Where are pigment stones formed?
they can be formed from anywhere in the biliary tree
2 types of pigment stones?
- black stones
2. brown stones
Where are black stones found?
in sterile gallbladder bile
Where are brown stones found?
in infected bile ducts
Which gallstone type can be seen on Xray?
black stones
Risk factors for gallstones (6)
- fat
- female
- 40 and over
- contraceptives
- pregnancy
- rapid weight loss
How are gallstones formed? (pathogenesis)
When concentration of cholesterol exceeds the solubilizing capacity of the bile, it becomes oversaturated and the cholesterol crystalizes
What enhances gallstone formation process?
hypomobility of the gallbladder
Clinical consequences of gallstones (6)
- severe right upper quadrant pain
- acute or chronic cholecystitis
- gallbladder cancer
- perforation
- pancreatitis
- jaundice
