Hepatobiliary Surgery Flashcards
Epidemiology of gallstones?
8% of population >40 yrs.
Incidence increased over last 20yrs.
Incidence increased over last 20yrs: western diet
Slightly increased incidence in females
90% of gallstones remain asymptomatic
Formation of gallstones?
General composition
- Phospholipid: Lecithin
- Bile pigments (broken down Hb)
- Cholesterol
Aetiology of gallstones?
- Lithogenic bile: Admirand’s Triangle?
- Biliary sepsis
- gallbladder hypomobility –> - Stasis
- Pregnancy, OCP
- TPN, fasting
- Sudden weight loss (Obesity surgery)
- Loss of bile salts - Terminal ileitis
- Diabetes - metabolic syndrome
What are cholesterol stones?
Large Often Solitary Formation increased according to Admirand's triangle: - decreased bile salts - Decreased lecithin - Increased cholesterol
Risk factors for cholesterol stones?
- Female
- OCP, Pregnancy
- Increase Age
- High fat diet and obesity
- Racial: E.g American indian tribes
- Loss of terminal ileum (decreased bile salts)
What are pigment stones?
- Small, black, gritty, fragile
- Calcium bilirubinate
- Associated with haemolysis
Mixed stones: 75%
Often multiple
Cholesterol is the major component
Complication of gallstones in the gallbladder?
- Biliary Colic
- Acute cholecystitis + empyema (RUQ + Fever)
- Chronic cholecystitis
- Mucocele
- Carcinoma
- Mirizzi’s syndrome (deranged LFT)
Complications of gallstones in the CBD?
Obstructive jaundice
Pancreatitis
Cholangitis
Complications of gallstones in the gut?
Gallstone ileus
What is the pathogenesis of biliary colic?
- Gallbladder spasm against a stone impacted in the neck of the gallbladder
- Less commonly the stone may be in the CBD.
Presentation of biliary colic?
Biliary colic
- RUQ pain radiating –> back (scapular region)
- Associated with sweating, pallor, n/v.
- Attacks may be ppted by fatty food and last 6hr.
- Tenderness in the right hypochondrium
- ± jaundice if stones passes into the CBD.
RUQ pain- colic
RUQ pain plus fever- cholecystitis
RUQ pain plus fever plus jaundice (charcot triad)- cholangitis
epigastric pain- more likely pancreatitis
What are the differentials for biliary colic?
- Cholecystitis/other gallstone disease
- Pancreatitis
- Bowel perforation
Investigations in biliary colic?
Same work up as cholecystitis as may be difficult to differentiate clinically
- Urine: bilirubin, urobilinogen, Hb
- Bloods: FBC, U+E, Amylase, LFTs, G+S, Clotting, CRP.
- Imaging
AXR: 10% of gallstones are radio-opaque
Erect CXR: looking for perforation
US:
- Stones: acoustic shadow
- Dilated ducts >6mm
- Inflamed GB: wall oedema
- If dilated ducts seen on US –> MRCP
If diagnosis uncertain after US
- HIDA cholescintigraphy:
shows failure of GB filling
Management of Biliary Colic?
Conservative
- Rehydrate + NBM
- Opioid analgesia: morphine 5-10mg/2hr max
- High recurrence rate therefore surgical management favoured
Surgical management
- As for conservative + either:
Urgent lap chole (same admission)
- Elective lap chole @ 6-12 weeks.
What is acute cholecystitis?
Path
- Stone or sludge impaction in Hartmann’s pouch
- -> Chemical and/or bacterial inflammation
- 5% are acalculous: sepsis, burns, DM.
Sequelae of disease of acute cholecystitis?
- Resolution ± recurrence
- Gangrene and rarely perforation
- Chronic cholecystitis
- Empyema
Presentation of acute cholecystitis?
Severe RUQ pain
- Continous
- Radiates to right scapula and epigastrium
Fever
Vomiting
Examination of acute cholecystitis?
- Local peritonism im RUQ
- Tachycardia with shallow breathing
± jaundice - Murphy’s sign. 2 fingers over the GB and ask pt to breath in –> Pain and breath catch. Must be -ve on the L.
- Phlegmom may be palpable
Mass of adherent omentum nad bowel - Boas’ sign
Hyperaesthesia below the right scapula.
What are the investigations of acute cholecystitis?
- Urine: bilirubin, urobilinogen
- Blood:
FBC: Increased WCC,
U+E: dehydration from vomiting
Amylase, LFTs, G+S, clotting, CRP
Imaging - AXR: gallstones, porcelain gallbladder - Erect CXR: look for perforation - US Stones: acoustic shadow Dilated ducts (>6mm) Inflamed GB: wall oedema
If diagnosis uncertain after US
- HIDA cholescintigraphy: shows failure of GB filling
MRCP if dilated ducts seen on US.
Management of acute cholecystits?
Conservative
- NBM
- Fluid resus
- Analgesia: paracetamol, diclofenac, codeine
- Abx: cefuroxime and metronidazole
- 80%-90% settle over 24-48hrs
- Deterioration: perforation, empyema
Surgical
- May be elective surgery @ 6-12 weeks (decreased inflammation)
- If <72hrs, may perform lap chole in acute phase.
- Empyema
High fever
RUQ mass
Percutaneous drainage: cholecystostomy.
What is chronic cholecystitis?
Flatulent dyspepsia - Vague upper abdominal discomfort - Distension, bloating - Nausea - Flatulence, burping - Symptoms exacerbated by fatty foods CCK release stimulated gallbladder (cholecystokinin)
Differential for chronic cholecystitis?
PUD
IBS
Hiatus Hernia
Chronic pancreatitis
Investigations for chronic cholecystitis?
AXR: porcelain gallbladder
US: stones, fibrotic, shrunken gallbladder
MRCP
Management of chronic cholecystitis?
Medical
- Bile salts (not very effective)
Surgical
- Elective cholecystectomy
- ERCP first if US shows dilated ducts and stones.
What is a mucocele?
- Neck of gallbladder blocked by stone but contents remain sterile
- Can be very large –> palpable mass
- May become infected –> empyema
Gallbladder carcinoma?
- Rare
- Associated with gallstones and gallbladder polyps
- Calcification of gallbladder –> Porcelain GB
- Incidental Ca found in 0.5-1% of lap choles.
Mirizzi’s syndrome?
- Rare
- Large stone in GB presses on the common hepatic duct –> obstructive jaundice
- Stones may erode through into the ducts.
Gallstone Ileus?
Large stone erodes from GB –> duodenum through a cholecysto-duodenal fistula 2nd to chronic inflammation
May impact in distal ileum –> obstruction
Rigler’s Triad
- Pneumobilia (air in bile duct)
- Small bowel obstruction
- Gallstone in the RLQ
Stone removal via enterotomy
Acute pancreatitis pathophysiology?
Pancreatic enzyme released and activated in vicious circle
1. Oedema + fluid shift + vomiting –> Hypovolaemic shock while enzymes –> autodigestion and fat necrosis.
- Vessel autodigestion –> retroperitoneal haemorrhage
- Inflammation –> Pancreatic necrosis
- Super-added infection: 50% of pts with necrosis
Epidemiology of acute pancreatitis?
1% of surgical admissions
4th and 5th decade
10% mortality