TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 11. Hepatobiliary Ultrasound A1 - Carmody, Kristin A2 - Carmody, Kristin A. A2 - Moore, Christopher L. A2 - Feller-Kopman, David PY - 2011 T2 - Handbook of Critical Care and Emergency Ultrasound AB - Biliary tract disease exists as a spectrum that ranges from asymptomatic gallstones to biliary colic, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, and cholangitis. The incidence of gallstones is approximately 10%–20% and is dependent on several factors such as age, gender, fertility, race, ethnicity, and associated comorbidities. Only 1%–3% of individuals with gallstones report being symptomatic. Biliary colic occurs when a gallstone temporarily obstructs either the common bile duct (CBD) or cystic duct. Usually, biliary colic is self-limited and treated with analgesia and elective cholecystectomy. Cholecystitis results from prolonged obstruction of the cystic duct and causes inflammation of the gallbladder (GB), necessitating more urgent surgical removal. Complications of cholecystitis can lead to infection, empyema, gangrene, necrosis, perforation, and sepsis. Cholecystitis is usually caused by an obstructing gallstone, but acalculous blockage does occasionally occur. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56300893 ER -