Lecture 38: Diseases of the Biliary Tree Flashcards
What are the complications of gallstones?
- Asymptomatic stone if in the gallbladder
- Stone intermittently obstructing cystic duct, causing intermittent biliary colic if it is at the mouth of the gallbladder
- Stone impacted in cystic duct, causing acute cholecystitis
- Stone in cystic duct compression common bile duct causing MIRIZZI syndrome
- Stone impacted in distal common bile duct, causing jaundice, biliary colic-type pain, and risk of ascending cholangitis or acute biliary pancreatitis
- Stone eroding through gallbladder into duodenum, resulting in cholecystenteric fistula
- . Long-standing cholelithiasis, resulting in gallbladder carcinoma
What is the epidemiology of gallstones?
8-10% of adult population
More females
What are the two types of gallstones?
- cholesterol stones
- risks = the 4 F’s
- pigment stones
- infection, cirrhosis and hemolytic anemia
What is cholelithiasis?
Gallbladder stones
Out of the adult population that has gallstones, how many are symptomatic?
10-20%
What is biliary colic?
Colic = a crampy pain that comes and goes
But this is actually a steady pain
-crescendos
-at the right upper quadrant or epigastric
Rapid onset, severe, steady pain
Radiation ot R shoulder or scapula
Remember that this is NOT RELIEVED by position change, antacids, flatus, etc.
What is the pathophysiology of biliary colic?
Pain is caused by gallstone that is wedged at the neck of the gallbladder and the junction of the cystic duct and hepatic ducts
When is CCK secreted?
When fatty food is ingested
What is suggestive of biliary colic?
Fatty food intolerance is suggestive
What are the characteristics of Acute cholecystitis?
An uncommon complication of cholelithiasis
Obstructed cystic duct + some other irritant factor that leads to inflammatory release
What is the classic presentation of acute cholecystitis?
- RUQ pain
- Fever
- Leukocytosis
Is emergent because gallbladder can progress to risk of gangrene, perforation and sepsis
How do you diagnose acute cholecystitis?
Use HIDA radioscans
Radiolabeled technesium compound is injected to see where the bile is taken up (you will not see shit to go into the gallbladder if you have blocked cystic duct)
What is the pathophysiology of bacterial cholangitis?
Stasis due to biliary obstruction raises intrabiliary pressure
Intrabiliary pressure promotes migration and colonization nof bacteria from the portal circulation into the biliary tract
What is cholangitis?
Inflammation of the COMMON BILE DUCT ninjaaaa
What are the presentations of cholangitis?
- Charcot’s triad
i. fever
ii. RUQ pain
ii. Jaundice
Can progress to confusion and HYPOtension
You don’t get jaundice unless you block the common bile duct