RT Book, Section
A1 Carmody, Kristin
A2 Carmody, Kristin A.
A2 Moore, Christopher L.
A2 Feller-Kopman, David
SR Print(0)
ID 56300893
T1 Chapter 11. Hepatobiliary Ultrasound
T2 Handbook of Critical Care and Emergency Ultrasound
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-160489-5
LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56300893
RD 2024/04/19
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.