Cholelithiasis and Cholecystitis Flashcards
Liver Functions
- Largest internal organ in the body; essential for life
- metabolic functions include: carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism; detoxification of the blood; steroid metabolism
- Bile synthesis functions include; bile production and storage
- Mononuclear phagocyte system function includes: breakdown of old RBCs, WBCs, bacteria, ect. Breakdown of Hgb to bilirubin and biliverdin
Biliary Tract
- made up of the gallbladder and the duct system
- Bibirubin
Common Bile Duct
Disorders of one often impact the other
Hepatic duct drains bile and this produced in the liver into the common bile duct, joins with the cystic duct which comes out of the gall bladder – becomes the common bile duct.
Pacreas has the pancreatic duct that drains into the common bile duct – together they drain through the spinchter of audi into the duodenum
Common bile duct connects the liver, the gall bladder and the pancreas before draining into the small intestine
Pancreas
Exocrine (pancreatic enzymes contributing to digestion) and endocrine functions (Islets of Langerhans secreting insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide)
Bilirubin Metabolism
Bilirubin is a pigment derived from the breakdown of old RBC. It is insoluble in water meaning it needs to be bound to albumin for its transport to the liver in an unconjugated form. Once it is in the liver it is conjugated with glucuronic acid – now it is in its conjugated form water soluble and is excreted in bile
Bile also consists of water, cholesterol, bile salts, electrolytes and phospholipids.
Bile salts are needed for fat emulsification and digestion
What is Cholelithiasis?
Stones in the gall bladder and the most common disorder of the biliary system
Biliary system
the organs and ducts (bile ducts, gallbladder, and associated structures) that are involved in the production and transportation of bile
Risk Factors for Cholelithiasis (6)
- overweight or obese
- high fat or high cholesterol diet
- 40 years of age or older
- taking medications that contain estrogen (more estrogen supplementation postmenopausally)
- having a family history of gallstones
- being female
Gall stones are precipitates of (5) and what is the predominant precipitate?
- cholesterol
- bile salts
- bilirubin
- calcium
- protein
Cholesterol type gall stones account for 90% of gallstones
What can contribute to Cholelithiasis and what can it turn into?
- immobility, pregnancy, and inflammatory and obstructive lesions of the biliary system all decrease bile flow. This can lead to gall stones.
- the stones can remain in the gall bladder or migrate to the cystic or common bile ducts.
- when the bile in the gall bladder can’t escape it may lead to cholecystitis
Gall stones can get stuck in the: (4)
- Hepatic duct which carries bile out of the liver
- Cystic duct which carries bile to and from the gall bladder
- Common bile duct which collects bile from the cystic and hepatic ducts and carries it to the small intestine
- Blockage of the pancreatic duct can cause pancreatic enzymes to be trapped inside the pancreas which can be very painful and cause a dangerous inflammation known as pancreatitis
Complications of Blockage
A common complication of gall stones is blockage of the cystic duct sometimes gallstones make their way out of the bladder and into the cystic duct and the channel through which bile travels from the gall bladder to the small intestine.
Cholecystitis can occur of the flow in the cystic duct is severely impeded or blocked
A less common but more serious problem occurs if the gall stones become lodged in the bile ducts between the liver and the small intestine – cholangitis. Blocks bile flow from the gall bladder and the liver causing pain, jaundice and fever. Gall stones may interfere with the flow of digestive fluids into the small intestine leading to inflammation of the pancreas
Prolonged blockages of any of these ducts can cause sever damage to the gall bladder, liver or pancreas and can go on to become fatal
Cholecystitis. what is it and what is it commonly associated with?
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder and is usually associated with obstruction caused by gallstones (cholelithiasis.
What is Acalculous Cholecystitis?
cholecystitis in the absence of obstruction. occurs most commonly in older adults and in patients who have trauma or extensive burns.
What causes acalculous cholecystitis? (5)
a) prolonged immobility
b) fasting
c) prolonged TPN
d) diabetes
e) bacteria (e-coli, salmonella)
The major pathologic condition of cholecystitis
inflammation
Most common cause of cholecystitis
gall stone obstruction preventing bile outflow