Biliary Tract Flashcards
Why do gallstones form?
There is an imbalance between ratio of cholesterol to bile salts, displacing micelle formation
Can excess bilirubin be solubilised in bile salts in Cholelithiasis?
No
Why is there excess bilirubin in cholelithiasis?
excess haemolysis
What can gall stones be made of?
Pure cholesterol, pure pigment, or a mix of the two (most commonly), or calcium carbonate
What are the 5Fs which are risks for gallstones?
Fat, female, forty +, fair, fertile
What is cholecystitis?
inflammation of gall bladder (usually associated with gall stones)
Why is the gallbladder wall thickening in cholecystitis?
Due to fibrosis
Is the gallbladder wall distended in cholecystitis?
No
Do Rokitonsky-Aschoff sinuses and chronic inflammation occur in cholecystitis?
Yes
What may cholecystitis cause?
Empyema, peritonitis, rupture
How common are carcinomas of the gallbladder and bile ducts?
Rare
What is bile duct cancer associated with?
ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis
Does gall bladder cancer have a good prognosis?
No, poor
How are gall stones diagnosed?
ultrasound
How does gall stone ileus present?
small bowel obstruction distally
