Biliary Sludge Flashcards
1
Q
what is sludge
A
Thickened bile
2
Q
what is a frequent cause of sludge
A
Biliary stasis
3
Q
who may be likely to have sludge
A
patients with prolonged fasting, hyperalimentation therapy or obstruction of the gallbladder
4
Q
Complications of biliary sludge
A
Complications include stone formation, biliary colic, acalculous cholecysititis and pancreatitis
5
Q
symptoms of sludge
A
May be asymptomatic
6
Q
Sonographic findings of bilairy sludge
A
- Sludge may make the gallbladder isoechoic to the liver and difficult to distinguish
- Sludge may be found in the common duct
- Sludge is mobile and therefore will move with repositioning of the patient
- Low level internal echoes layering in dependant part of gallbladder
- Prominent gallbladder size
7
Q
DD of sludge
A
“•Pseudosludge
•Empyema of gallbladder
•Hemobilia
•Neoplasm “
