Gallstones Flashcards
What is cholecystitis?
Inflammation of the gallbladder
What is cholelithiasis?
Gallstones within the gallbladder
What is the name for gallstones which are implanted in the bile duct?
Choledocholithiasis
What is the name for infection of the bile duct?
Cholangitis
What two tests can be used to diagnostically investigate the biliary tract but can also be used therapeutically?
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography
What are the risk factors for developing cholelithiasis?
Female Obese Increasing age Positive family history Low fibre diet Caucasian
What type of gallstone is usually solitary, oval and large (up to 3cm)?
Cholesterol stones
What is the appearance of bile pigment gallstones and what are these associated with?
Multiple stones, irregular and hard
Associated with chromic haemolysis
What type of gallstone is most common?
Mixed stones
Gallstones can form by the precipitation of cholesterol out of solution. How might this occur?
Cholesterol supersaturation due to high cholesterol levels (associated with high oestrogen levels - pregnancy, obesity) or low bile acid levels (e.g. after small bowel resection or with active chron’s)
Biliary stasis
Increased bilirubin secretion (increased haemolysis)
What are the symptoms of acute cholecystitis?
Pain Fever Vomiting Nausea Abdominal tenderness
How is acute cholecystitis treated?
Antibiotics
Analgesia
Elective cholecystectomy
What can be a complication of gallstones if they become impacted in the neck of the gallbladder?
Biliary colic
Post hepatic jaundice can be commonly caused by choledocholithiasis but also by…?
Cancer in the head of the pancreas which compresses on the common bile duct
What are the symptoms of post hepatic obstructive jaundice?
Pale stools Dark urine Yellow sclerae Pruritus Features of chromic liver disease Abdominal tenderness
