Gall Bladder Flashcards
Biliary tree
Right + left hepatic ducts = common hepatic duct (CHD)
CHD + Cystic duct = Common Bile Duct (CBD)
CBD joins with pancreatic duct = hepatopancreatic ampulla of vater
Ampulla of Vater releases bile and pancreatic enzymes into duodenum through oddi of sphincter
Gall Bladder blood supply
Cystic artery (R. Hep. Artery -> Com. Hep. Artery) Cystic vein into portal vein
Gall bladder nerve innervations
Parasympathetic (contraction): Vagus Nerve
Sympathetic and Sensory: Coeliac Plexus
Cholelithiasis
Uncomplicated gall stones
Types of gall stones and RF
Cholesterol gall stones: most common (90%). RF: FHx, diet (obesity, metabolic syndrome, sudden weight reduction), age, and female sex hormones.
Brown pigmented gall stones: Result of stasis and infection. Unconjugated Bilirubin and calcium salts RF:Bile ducts strictures or parasitic infestation
Black pigmented: Polymerised calcium bilirubinate (5-10%). RF: age, chronic haemolytic anaemia, cirrhosis, cystic fibrosis, and ileal disease
Typical presentation of gall stones
Most asymptomatic.
Can present with RUQ pain, sometimes after food
Constant pain, increasing intensity. Pain duration <30 mins is not biliary colic. More than 5 hrs suggests complicationor cholecystitis
Key investigation for gall stones
US initial test
If unremarkable and symptoms persists CT scan or MRCP if query choledocholithiasis (common bile duct stones)
Management for gall stones
Asymptomatic: Observe
Symptomatic: Lap. Cholecystectomy
choledocholithiasis with/without symptoms: ERCP
Acute Cholecystitis
Acute gall bladder inflammation
Lasts 3-6 hours. Fever is common
RUQ tenderness with + murphy’s sign
Investigation for acute cholecystitis
US is the definitive test
If unclear then use hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid HIDA
CT is not as good as US for diagnosing, but it is useful when obesity or gaseous distension limits ultrasound interpretation
Management of acute cholecystitis
Supportive care (fluids, analgaesia, obs)
Oral/IV Abx-cefuroxime or ciprofloxacin and metranidazole
Lap. Cholecystectomy
If poor surgical candidate:
Percutaneous cholecystectomy drainage tube
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
Chronic progressive cholestatic liver disease
Inflammation and fibrosis of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts causing strictures
PSC more commonly associated with UC or CD
UC
2/3rd of people with PSC have associated IBD
Common risk factors of PSC
Male 2:1 ratio
Hx of IBD
Genetic: First degree relative has PSC
Common age of diagnosis is in 40s to 50s
Common signs and symptoms
Abdo pain (non specific RUQor epigastric) Pruritus Fatigue Weight Loss Fever (bacterial cholangitis) Jaundice