Cholangitis & cholecystitis Flashcards
What does bile do?
Emulsifies fats
What is emulsification?
when the fat is split into much smaller pieces so that the surface area for metabolism to act is much larger
What are hepatocytes?
liver cells
Where is bile stored?
In the gall bladder
What is cholangitis?
an inflammation of the bile duct system
What is cholecystitis?
Inflammation of the gallbladder - Nearly always due to a gall stone blockage
What is Charcot’s triad?
Fever, jaundice, right upper quadrant pain
What is Reynold’s pentad?
Confusion, RUQ pain, fever, jaundice, shock
What is choledocholithiasis?
Stones in the bile duct - most common cause of acute cholangitis
What happens when your gallbladder is inflamed and swollen?
it irritates your phrenic nerve - this stretches from the abdomen, through the chest and into your neck - each time you eat a fatty meal it aggravates the nerve and causes referred pain in your right shoulder blade
What abdominal assessment tests for cholecystitis?
Murphy’s sign
What is treatment for cholangitis?
Nearly always surgery in uncomplicated cases
