Biliary Tract Flashcards
List the components of the biliary tract.
Intrahepatic ducts combine to form the left and right hepatic ducts -> common hepatic duct
Gallbladder -> cystic duct
Cyst duct + hepatic duct -> common bile duct -> Ampulla of Vater
What is the name of the node in Calot’s triangle?
Calot’s node
What are the small ducts that drain bile directly into the gallbladder from the liver?
Ducts of Luschka
Which artery is susceptible to injury during cholecystectomy?
Right hepatic artery, because of its proximity to the cystic artery and Calot’s traingle
Where is the infundibulum of the gallbladder?
Near the cystic duct
Where is the fundus of the gallbladder?
At the end of the gallbladder
What are the boundaries of the triangle of Calot?
- Cystic duct (inferior)
- Common hepatic duct (medial)
- Cystic artery (superior)
What is the source of alkaline phosphatase?
Bile duct epithelium; expect elevation in bile duct obstruction
What is in bile?
Cholesterol
Lecitihin (phospholipid)
Bile acids
Bilirubin
What does bile do?
Emulsifies fats
What is the enterohepatic circulation?
Circulation of bile acids form liver to gut and back to th eliver
Where are most of the bile acids absorbed?
In the terminal ileum
What stimulates gallbladder emptying?
Cholecystokinin and vagal input
What is the source of cholecystokinin?
Duodenal mucosal cells
What are the actions of cholecystokinin?
Gallbladder emptying
Opening of ampulla of Vater
Slowing of gastric emptying
Pancreas acinar cell growth and release of exocrine products
At what level of serum total bilirubin does one start to get jaundiced?
2.5
Classically, what is thought to be the anatomic location where one first finds evidence of jaundice and why?
Under the tongue (UV light breaks down bilirubin at other sites)
What are the signs and symptoms of obstructive jaundice?
Jaundice Dark urine Clay-colored stools (acholic stools) Pruritis (itching) Loss of appetite Nausea
What causes the itching in obstructive jaundice?
Bile salts in the dermis (not bilirubin!)
Define cholelithiasis.
Gallstones in the gallbladder
Define choledocholithiasis.
Gallstone in common bile duct
Define cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gallbladder
Define cholangitis.
Infection of biliary tract
Define cholangiocarinoma.
Adenocarcinoma of bile ducts
Define Klatskin’s tumor.
Cholangiocarinoma of bile duct at the junction of the right and left hepatic ducts
Define biliary colic.
Pain from gallstones, usually from a stone at the cystic duct
Pain is located in the RUQ, epigastrium, or right subscapular region of the back
Usually lasts minutes to hours but eventually goes away; often postprandial, especially after fatty foods
Define biloma.
Intraperitoneal bile fluid collection
Define choledochojejunostomy
Anastomosis between the common bile duct and jejunum
Define hepaticojejunostomy
Anastomosis of hepatic ducts or common hepatic duct to jejunum
What is the initial diagnostic study of choice for evaluation fo the biliary tract/gallbladder/cholelithiasis?
U/S
Define ERCP.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography
Define PTC.
Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram
Define IOC.
IntraOperative Cholangiogram (done laparoscopically or open to rule out choledocholithiasis)
What is a HIDA/PRIDA scan?
Radioisotope study; isotope concentrated in liver and secreted into bile; will demonstrate cholecystitis, bile leak, or CBD obstruction
How does the HIDA scan reveal cholecystitis?
Non-opacification of the gallbladder from obstruction of the cystic duct
What is a cholecystectomy?
Removal of the gallbladder laparoscopically or through a standard Kocher incision
What is a sphincterotomy?
Cut through the sphincter of Oddi to allow passage of gallstones from the common bile duct; most often done at ERCP
How should post-operative biloma be treated after a lap chole?
Percutaneous drain bile collection
ERCP with placement of biliary stent past leak (usually cystic duct remnant leak)
What is the treatment of major CBD injury after a lap chole?
Choledochojejunostomy
What is obstructive jaundice?
Jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia >2.5) from obstruction of bile flow to the duodenum
DDx - proximal bile duct obstruction (11)
Cholanigiocarcinoma Lymphadenopathy Metastatic tumor Gallbladder carcinoma Sclerosing cholangitis Gallstones Tumor embolus Parasites Post-surgical stricture Hepatoma Benign bile duct tumor
DDx - distal bile duct obstruction (11)
Choledocholithiasis (gallstones) Pancreatic carcinoma Pancreatitis Ampullary carcinoma LAD Pseudocyst Post-surgical stricture Ampulla of Vater dysfunction/stricture Lymphoma Benign bile duct tumor Parasites
Initial study of choice for obstructive jaundice?
U/S
What lab results are associated with obstructive jaundice?
Elevated alk phos
Elevated bilirubin with or without elevated LFTs
Incidence of cholelithiasis?
~10% of the US population will develop gallstones
Classic 4 risk factors for cholelithiasis?
Female
Fat
Forty
Fertile (multiparity)
What are the types of gallstones?
- Cholesterol stones (75%)
2. Pigment stones (25%)
What are the types of pigmented stones?
- Black stones (contain calcium bilirubinate)
2. Brown stones (assc. with biliary tract infection)
What are the causes of black-pigmented stones?
Cirrhosis
Hemolysis
What is the pathogenesis of cholesterol stones?
Secretion of bile supersaturated with cholesterol (relatively decreased amounts of lecithin and bile salts); then, cholesterol precipitates out and forms solid crystals, then gallstones
Signs and symptoms of cholelithiasis?
Symptoms of biliary colic, cholangitis, choledocholithiasis, gallstone pancreatitis