Gallbladder Pathology Flashcards
what is the common age group gallstones affects?
middle aged women
what are the different types of gallstones?
cholesterol, bile pigment, mixed
how are cholesterol gallstones form?
Form when supersaturated bile is further concentrated – excess of mucus production – or from clumps of bacteria/desquamated mucosa
High concentration of cholesterol in gallbladder, gallbladder stasis, products that promote crystallisation of cholesterol
what do cholesterol gallstones look like?
surface is yellow and greasy
how can cholesterol gallstones appear?
solitary oval stone – cholesterol solitaire
Or as 2 stones -one indenting the other or as multiple mulberry stones
what are the risk factors to developing cholesterol gallstones?
contraceptive pill, pregnancy, age, FH, obesity, low dietary fibre
what are bile pigment gallstones made of?
calcium bilirubinate with some calcium carbonate
what do bile pigment gallstones look like?
Small, black, irregular, multiple, gritty and fragile
what are the risk factors to developing bile pigment gallstones?
haemolytic anaemias (spherocytosis, sickle cell disease), glucuronidases (bacteria), cirrhosis
what are mixed gallstones?
Multiple, faceted one against the other
how to mixed gallstones appear?
Grouped into two or more series, each of the same size – generation of stones
what do mixed gallstones look like?
Cut surface is laminated with alternate dark and light zones of pigment and cholesterol
what is the disease progression of gallstones?
Gallstone gets stuck in cystic duct, pain in epigastric region as gallbladder contracts to remove stone, stasis of bile, bacteria growth
how does a gallstone become stuck in the cystic duct?
o Occurs when small intestine secretes CCK where it signals gall bladder to secrete bile
o As gall bladder contracts gall stone gets lodged
what does stasis of bile in gallstones result in?
o Chemical irritant
o Mucosa in walls secrete mucus and inflammatory enzymes
o Inflammation, distension and increased pressure
which bacteria commonly grow in gallstones?
o Ecoli, enterococci, Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium.
what are the complications of bacterial growth in gallstones?
Peritonitis
neutrophilic leucocytosis
what causes the shoulder tip pain in gallstones?
gallbladder swells causing RUQ and irritation of diaphragm
acute cholecystitis is caused by
blockage in the gallbladder
cholangitis is caused by
blockage of the common bile duct
what are the pathological affects of gallstones?
silent impaction choledocholithiasis increased pressure in bile duct mirizzi syndrome gallstone ileus
what is silent gallstones?
no symptoms present
what is gallstone impaction?
stuck in Hartmann’s pouch or cystic duct, causing imflammation
what is choledocholithiasis
gallstones may migrate into the common bile duct. These may be silent or produce an intermittent or complete obstruction of the common bile duct with pain and jaundice or ascending cholangitis or acute pancreatitis
what is the result of increased pressure in the bile duct?
bile seeps out and into bloodstream = increased serum conjugated bilirubin, and increased ALP (from cell damage)
what is Mirizzi Syndrome?
a gallstone may impact in the cystic duct of Hartmann’s pouch and cause extrinsic compression of the common hepatic duct, also resulting in obstructive jaundice
what is gallstone ileus?
impaction of the stone in the narrowest part of the small bowel (the distal ileum) with resulting intestinal obstruction
what causes a gallstone ileus?
a large gallstone ulcerates through the wall of the gallbladder into the adjacent duodenum
what is the key feature of gallstone ileus?
presence of air in the biliary tree that has entered the bile ducts via the fistula - seen on CT
what are the common clinical manifestations of gallstones?
- Acute Cholecystitis
- Chronic Cholecystitis
- Biliary Colic
- Cholangitis
what are the other clinical manifestations of gallstones?
o Obstructive jaundice with CBD stones o Gallstone ileus o Pancreatitis o Mucocele-empyema o Mirizzi’s Syndrome o Gallbladder perforation
what are the summary features of biliary colic?
Colicky abdominal pain, worse postprandially, worse after fatty foods
what are the summary features of acute cholecystitis?
Right upper quadrant pain, fever, murphy’s sign on examination. Occasionally mildly deranged LFTs (especially if Mirizzi syndrome)
what are the summary features of gallbladder abscess?
Usually prodromal illness and RUQ pain. Swinging pyrexia. Patient may be systemically unwell. Generalised peritonism not present
what are the summary features of cholangitis?
Patient severely septic and unwell. Jaundice. RUQ pain.
what are the summary features of gallstone ileus?
Patients may have a history f previois cholecystitis and known gallstones. Small bowel obstruction (may be intermittent)
what are the summary features of Acalulous Cholecystitis?
Patients with intercurrent illness (.e.g. diabetes, organ failure). Patient of systemically unwell Gallbladder inflammation in abdence of stones, high fever
what is the summary management of biliary colic?
If imaging shows gallstones and history compatible then laparoscopic cholecystectomy
what is the summary management of acute cholecystitis?
Imaging (USS) and cholecystectomy (ideally within 48 hours of presentation)
what is the summary management of gallbladder abscess?
Imaging with USS +/- CT scanning. Ideally, surgery although subtotal cholecystectomy may be needed if Calots triangle is hostile. In unfit patients, percutaneous drainage may be considered