Stones in common bile duct + ascending acute cholangitis Flashcards
What is acute cholangitis
Infection of the biliary tree + most often occurs secondary to common bile duct obstruction by gallstones
What causes stones in common bile duct
- Benign biliary structures following biliary surgery
2 .Cancer of the pancreatic head = bile duct obstruction - In far east + mediterranean biliary parasites can cause blockage and ascending/acute cholengitis
Clinical presentation of acute cholangitis
- Biliary colic
- Fever (rigors), Jaundice (proceeded by abdominal pain), right upper quadrant pain - may not alway see present
- CHolestatic jaundice (dark urine, pale stools and skin may itch)
What should show in blood tests for acute cholangitis
- ELEVATED neutrophil count
- Raised ESR and CRP
- Raised serum bilirubin - bile duct obstruction if very high
- Raised serum alkaline phosphatase
- Aminotransferase levels are elevated (ALTs are higher than ASTs normally)
What would show up in a transabdominal ultrasound for cholangitis
- Initial imaging choice
- Dilatation of common bile duct
- Mar or may not show cause of obstruction
- Distal common bile duct stones are easily missed
What would a Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography show for cholangitis
- Shows biliary, common bile duct stones and dilated ducts
Why do we use a CT to check for cholangitis
- Excludes pancreatic carcinomas
2. Easy to spot pigmented stones
How is cholangitis treated
IV antibiotics (CEFOTAXIMME, METRONIDAZOLE) Urgent biliary drainage using ERCP or spincterectomy
What is sphincterectomy
Cutting off biliary sphincter
Remove stones
crushing stones
stent placement
How long do we give patients with cholangitis IV antibiotics for
Until symptoms resolved (after biliary drainage)
When is surgery done for cholangitis
Large stones
Gallstones in gallbladder vs bile duct
- Biliary pain in GB and BD
- Cholecystitis in GB not BD
- Obstructive Jaundice in GB and BD
- Cholangitis not in GB but in BD
- Pancreatitis not in gallbladder but is in bile duct
Gallstone Compications in gallbladder + cystic duct
- Biliary colics
- Acute cholecystitis
- Empyema
- Mirizzi’s syndrome
What is Empyema
Gallbladder fills with puss
What is hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver
What define acute hepatitis
Within 6 months onset
What defines chronic hepatitis
Hepatitis lasting longer than 6 months
Symptoms of acute hepatitis
- Malaise
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- GI upset
- Abdominal pain - right upper quadrant
- With/without cholestatic jaundice
- Tender hepatomegaly
Raised bilirubin
What causes acute hepatitis
- Viral: Hep A + E
Herpesvirus - Non-viral (Leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, coxiella)
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Toxins
- Pregnancy
- Autoimmune
Is chronic hepatitis symptomatic
can be
Signs of chronic liver disease
- Clubbing
- Palmar erythema
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Spider naevi
What is Dupuytren’s contracture
One or more fingers bending into palm of the hand
Level of LFTs in the blood in chronic liver disease
AST and ALT normal
Can liver function be maintained during cirrhosis
Yes
What happens if fibrosis is too severe
Jaundice Ascites Low albumin Coagulopathy Encephalopathy
Complications of Chornic hepatitis
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Portal hypertension (varices + bleeding)
Causes of chronic hepatitis
Infection:
1. Hepatitis B/C
Non-Infective:
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Autoimmune
- Hereditary metabolic
Where is Hep A most common
Africa and South A
What time of the year does Hep A commonly occur
Autumn and affects children + young adults
How does Hep A occur
Ingestion of contaminated food or water (shellfish)
Overcrowding or poor sanitation facilitate spread
How does Hep A spread
Faeco-Oral route
What virus causes Hep A
Picornavirus
Where does Picornavirus replicated
Liver
Where is Picornavirus excreted
Bile -> faeces about 2 weeks before onset of clinical ullness
When is Hep A maxmillay infectious
JUST BEFORE jaundice
Incubation period of Hep A
2-6 weeks
What does Hep A cause
Acute Hepatitis
How long is Hep A self-limiting for
3-6 weeks
Does acute hepatitis commonly cause fulminant hepatitis
No - RARE
What is fulminant hepatitis
Hepatitis that causes wick liver failure
100% immunity after infection n
Clinical presentation of Hep A
- Viraemia causes patients to feel unwell, nausea, fever, malaise
- Jaundice
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Jaundice sessions after 6 weeks
How long does it take for patients to go jaundiced after have Hep A
1-2 weeks - symptoms often improve
Is Hep A jaundice common in children
No
How does jaundice effect symptoms seen in Hep A
Urine become darks
Stool becomes pale
Due to INTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS
Differential diagnosis of Hep A
- Jaundice
2. Drug-induced hepatitis
How do we diagnose Hep A in the prodromal stage (Between initial symptoms + jaundice)
- Serum bilirubin normal
- Bilirubinuria + raised urinary urobilinogen
- Raised serum AST or ALT
How do we diagnose Hep A in the Icteric stage (once jaundice has presented)
Serum bilirubin levels
Blood test result in Hep A
Lecupenia (reduced WBC)
Raised ESR
Viral markers seen in hep A
HAV antibodies
Anti-HAV IgM
Prognosis of Hep A
Good
How is Hep A Treated
Avoid alcohol
Monitor liver function to spot fulminant hepatic failure
Manage close contacts by giving normal immunoglobulins for hep A
How is Hep A prevented
- . Good hygiene
- Resistant to chlorination but not boring water
- Active immunisation