Pancreatobiliary Disease Flashcards
Function of the gallblader
Stores and concentrates bile which is produced by liver
Excretes into bile duct when have fatty meals
Function of the pancreas
Productive of digestive enzymes (exocrine function)
Production of insulin (endocrine function)
LFTs
Bilirubin
ALT/AST = transaminases produced by hepatocytes so elevation = inflammation
ALP & GGT = by biliary epithelium so elevation = inflammation of any of biliary ducts
Pathways of bilirubin
RBC breakdown in spleen
Unconjugated form
Goes to liver to become conjugated
Travels in bile duct to intestines out to faeces
Travels in blood to kidneys and out in urine as urobilinogen
2 types of bilirubin
Unconjugated/indirect = pre hepatic or hepatocellular abnormality Conjugated/direct = post hepatic abnormality
Define chole
Gallbladder
Define cholang
Of the bile duct
Define itis
Inflammation
Define cholangitis
Inflammation of the bile duct
Define cholangiocarcinoma
Cancer of the bile duct
Types of gallstones
Cholesterol (80%)
Pigmented
Mixed
RF of gallstones
5Fs = fat, 40s, fair skin, female, fertile
FH
Drugs = OCP, fibrates
Conditions = Sickle cell, cirrhosis, Crohns
What proportion of gallstones are asymptomatic?
80%
Complications of gall stones
20% of patients
- cholecystitis
- biliary colic
- cholangitis
- obstructive jaundice
- pancreatitis
Radiological Ix of gallstones
Abdominal US 1st line
CT scan
Abdominal X-ray not used but may see incidentally
MRI (MRCP)
MRCP
Magnetic Resonance CholangioPancreatography
What table to use to differentiate 4 common biliary conditions?
Acute cholecystitis, biliary colic, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis down column
Pain, WCC/CRP/fever, jaundice on row
Symptoms of cholecystitis
RUQ pain - increases in intensity over time and does not settle without treatment
Radiate to right shoulder
Fevers
Nausea and vomiting
NO JAUNDICE - limited to gallbladder not causing blockage to flow of bile from liver to intestine
Examination of cholecystitis
RUQ tenderness
Murphy’s sign
Febrile
Septic
Murphy’s Sign
Ask patient to exhale
Place hand below costal margin on the right side at mid clavicular line
Instruct patient to expire
Positive = stops breathing and winces with a catch in breath as inflamed gallbladder palpated as it descends on inspiration
Ix of cholecystitis
Bloods - FBC elevated WCC - elevated CRP - elevated ALT/ALP - not jaundiced - U&E, clotting, blood gas Imaging - USS - CT
Tx for cholecystitis
ABs
IV fluids
Analgesia
Surgery - cholecystectomy
Complications of cholecystitis
Chronic cholecystitis
Gallbladder empyema
Fistula
Mirizzi Syndrome
What fistulae can you get in cholecystitis?
Cholecystoduodenal
Cholecystojejunal
Cholesystocolonic
What is Mirizzi syndrome?
Gallstones impacted at end of cystic duct causing compression of bile duct
Will have jaundice in this case as blockage of bile duct
Differentials of cholecystitis
Peptic ulcer Dyspepsia Pancreatitis Perforated ulcer Pneumonia ACS Pyelonephritis
Define biliary colic
Colicky pain due to gallstone temporarily blocking cystic or bile duct
Define colicky pain
Pain comes and goes in waves
Symptoms of biliary colic
Colicky to RUQ
May radiate to R. shoulder
NO JAUNDICE AS TEMPORARY BLOCKAGE
Lasts for hours as temporary blockage of duct
After fatty foods as matches peristalsis waves of bile
Repeated episodes over weeks-months
Examination of biliary colic
RUQ pain
Or normal
Ix of biliary colic
Bloods - elevated ALP - FBC, lipase, CRP, clotting normal Imaging - USS - CT - MRCP
Tx for biliary colic
Remove stones via ERCP
Remove cause of stones (cholecystectomy)