Mohammad Mobasheri SpR General Surgery

 Types of gallstone  Cholesterol stones (20%)  Pigment stones (5%)  Mixed (75%)  Epidemiology  Fat, Fair, Female, Fertile, Fourty inaccurate, but reminder of the typical patient  F:M = 2:1  10% of British women in their 40s have gallstones  Genetic predisposition – ask about family history

 Composition of bile:  Bilirubin (by-product of haem degradation)  Cholesterol (kept soluble by bile salts and lecithin)  Bile salts/acids (cholic acid/chenodeoxycholic acid): mostly reabsorbed in terminal ileum(entero-hepatic circulation).  Lecithin (increases solubility of cholesterol)  Inorganic salts (sodium bicarbonate to keep bile alkaline to neutralise gastric acid in duodenum)  Water (makes up 97% of bile)

 Cholesterol  Imbalance between bile salts/lecithin and cholesterol allows cholesterol to precipitate out of solution and form stones  Pigment  Occur due to excess of circulating bile pigment (e.g. Heamolytic anaemia)  Mixed  Same pathophysiology as cholesterol stones  Other Factors  Stasis (e.g. Pregnancy)  Ileal dysfunction (prevents re-absorption of bile salts)  Obesity and hypercholesterolaemia

 80% Asymptomatic  20% develop complications and do so on recurrent basis

 Biliary Colic  Acute Cholecystitis  Gallbladder Empyema  Gallbladder gangrene  Gallbladder perforation  Obstructive Jaundice  Ascending Cholangitis  Pancreatitis  Gallstone Ileus (rare)

 Gallstone disease (and its related complications)  Gastritis/duodenitis  Peptic ulcer disease/perforated peptic ulcer  Acute pancreatitis  Right lower lobe pneumonia  MI  If presenting to A&E with RUQ pain all patients should get  Blood tests  AXR/E-CXR (to exclude perforation/pneumonia)  ECG

 Can differentiate between gallstone complications based on:  History  Examination  Blood tests  FBC  LFT  CRP  Clotting  Amylase

ComplicationHistoryExaminationBlood tests Biliary Colic- Intermittent RUQ/epigastric pain (minutes/hours) into back or right shoulder - N&V -Tender RUQ -No peritonism -Murphy’s – -Apyrexial, HR and BP (N) -WCC (N) CRP (N) - LFT (N) Acute Cholecystitis-Constant RUQ pain into back or right shoulder -N&V -Feverish -Tender RUQ -Periotnism RUQ (guarding/rebound) -Murphy’s + -Pyrexia, HR (↑) -WCC and CRP (↑) -LFT (N or mildly (↑) Empyema-Constant RUQ pain into back or right shoulder -N&V -Feverish -Tender RUQ -Peritonism RUQ -Murphy’s + -Pyrexia, HR (↑), BP (↔ or ↓) -More septic than acute cholecystitis -WCC and CRP (↑) -LFT (N or mildly (↑) Obstructive Jaundice-Yellow discolouration -Pale stool, dark urine -painless or assocaited with mild RUQ pain -Jaundiced -Non-tender or minimally tender RUQ -No peritonism -Murphy’s – -Apyrexial, HR and BP (N) -WCC and CRP (N) -LFT: obstructive pattern bili (↑), ALP (↑), GGT (↑), ALT/AST (↔) -INR (↔ or ↑) Ascending CholangitisBecks triad -RUQ pain (constant) -Jaundice -Rigors -Jaundiced -Tender RUQ -Peritonism RUQ -Spiking high pyrexia (38-39) -HR (↑), BP (↔ or ↓) -Can develop septic shock -WCC and CRP (↑) -LFT : obstructive pattern bili (↑), ALP (↑), GGT (↑), ALT/AST (↔) -INR (↔ or ↑) Acute Pancreatitis-Severe upper abdominal pain (constant) into back -Profuse vomiting -Tender upper abdomen -Upper abdominal or generalised peritonism -Usually apyrexial, HR (↑), BP (↔ or ↓) -WCC and CRP (↑) -LFT: (N) if passed stone or obstructive pattern ifstone still in CBD -Amylase (↑) -INR/APTT (N) or (↑) if DIC Gallstone Ileus- 4 cardinal features of SBO-distended tympanic abdomen -hyperactive/tinkling bowel sounds

 Bloods (already discussed)  AXR (10% gallstones are radio-opaque)  E-CXR (to exclude perforation – MUST!)  ECG (to exclude MI)  USS: first line investigation in gallstone disease  Confirms presence of gallstones  Gall bladder wall thickness (if thickened suggests cholecystitis)  Biliary tree calibre (CBD/extrahepatic/intrahepatic) – if dilated suggests stone in CBD (normal CBD <8mm).  Sometimes CBD stone can be seen.  MRCP: To visualise biliary tree accurately (much more accurate than USS)  Diagnostic only but non-invasive  Look for biliary dilatation and any stones in biliary tree  ERCP: Diagnostic and therepeutic in biliary obstruction  Diagnostic and therepeutic but invasive  Look for biliary tree dilatation and stones in biliary tree  Stones can be extracted to unobstruct the biliary tree and perform sphincterotomy  Risk of pancreatitis, duodenal perforation  PTC  To unobstruct biliary tree when ERCP has failed  Invasive – higher complication rate than ERCP  CT: Not first line investigation. Mainly used if suspicion of gallbladder empyema, gangrene, or perforation and in acute pancreatitis (USS not good for looking at pancreas)

Pathogenesis  Stone intermittently obstructing cystic duct (causing pain) and then dropping back into gallbladder (pain subsides) USS confirms presence of gallstones Treatment  Analgesia  Fluid resuscitation if vomiting  If pain and vomiting subside does not need admitting

Pathogenesis:  Due to obstruction of cystic duct by gallstone:  Cystic duct blockage by gallstone  Obstruction to secretion of bile from gallbladder  Bile becomes concentrated  Chemical inflammation initially  Secondarily infected by organisms released by liver into bile stream USS confirms diagnosis (gallstones, thickened gallbladder wall, peri-cholecystic fluid) Complications of acute cholecystitis  Empyema of gallbaldder  Gangrene of gallbladder (rare)  Perforation ofgallbaldder (rare) Treatment  Admit for monitoring  Analgesia  Clear fluids initially, then build up oral intake as cholecystitis settles  IVF  Antibiotics  95% settle with above management  If do not settle then for CT scan  Empyema  percutaneous drainage  Gangrene/perforation with generalised peritonitis  emergency surgery

Pathogenesis:  Stone obstructing CBD (bear in mind there are other causes for obstructive jaundice) – danger is progression to ascending cholangitis.  USS  Will confirm gallstones in the gallbladder  CBD dilatation i.e. >8mm (not always!)  May visualise stone in CBD (most often does not)  MRCP  In cases where suspect stone in CBD but USS indeterminate  E.g.1 obstructive LFTs but USS shows no biliary dilatation and no stone in CBD  E.g. 2 normal LFTS but USS shows biliary dilatation  ERCP  If confirmed stone in CBD on USS or MRCP proceed to ERCP which will confirm this (diagnostic) and allow extraction of stones and sphincterotomy (therepeutic) Treatment  Must unobstruct biliary tree with ERCP to prevent progression to ascending cholangitis  Whilst awaiting ERCP monitor for signs of sepsis suggestive of cholangitis

Pathogenesis:  Stone obstructing CBD with infection/pus proximal to the blockage Treatment  ABC  Fluid resuscitation (clear fuids and IVF, catheter)  Antibiotics (Augmentin)  HDU/ITU if unwell/septic shock  Pus must be drained* - this is done by decompressing the biliary tree  Urgent ERCP  Urgent PTC – if ERCP unavailable or unsuccesful

Pathogenesis  Obstruction of pancreatic outflow  Pancreatic enzymes activated within pancreas  Pancreatic auto-digestion USS: to confirm gallstones as cause of pancreatitis  USS not good for visualising pancreas CT: gold standard for assessing pancreas.  Performed if failing to settle with conservative management to look for complications such as pancreatic necrosis Treatment  Analgesia  Fluid resuscitation  Pancreatic rest – clear fluids initially  Identify underlying cause of pancreatitis  95% settle with above conservative management  5% who do no settle or deteriorate need CT scan to look for pancreatic necrosis

Pathogenesis:  Gallstone causing small bowel obstruction (usually obstructs in terminal ileum)  Gallstone enters small bowel via cholecysto-duodenal fistula (not via CBD) AXR – dilated small bowel loops  May see stone if radio-opaque Treatment  NBM  Fluid resuscitation + catheter  NG tube  Analgesia  Surgery (will not settle with conservative management) – enterotomy + removal of stone Diagnosis of gallstone ileus usually made at the time of surgery.

 Asymptomatic gallstones do not require operation  Indications  A single complication of gallstones is an indication for cholecystectomy (this includes biliary colic)  After a single complication risk of recurrent complications is high (and some of these can be life threatening e.g. cholangitis, pancreatitis)  Whilst awaiting laparoscopic cholecystectomy  Low fat diet  Dissolution therapy (ursodeoxycholic acid) generally useless

 All performed laparoscopically  Advantages:  Less post-op pain  Shorter hospital stay  Quicker return to normal activities  Disadvantages:  Learning curve  Inexperience at performing open cholecystectomies

 After acute cholecystitis, cholecystectomy traditionally performed after 6 weeks  Arguments for 6 weeks later  Laparoscopic dissection more difficult when acutely inflammed  Surgery not optimal when patient septic/dehydrated  Logistical difficulties (theatre space, lack of surgeons)  Arguments for same admission  Research suggests same admission lap chole as safe as elective chole (conversion to open maybe higher)  Waiting increases risk of further attacks/complications which can be life threatening  Risk of failure of conservative management and development of dangerous complication such as empyema, gangrene and perforation can be avoided  National guidelines state any patient with attack of gallstone pancreatitis should have lap chole within 3 weeks of the attack

Questions?