Intermediate Risk of Choledocolithiasis: Are We on the Right Path?

Author(s):  
Felipe Giron ◽  
Lina M Rodríguez ◽  
Danny Conde ◽  
Marco Vanegas ◽  
Carlos Rey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Choledocolithiasis is the presence of stones in the bile duct, commonly associated with cholelithiasis, with an incidence of 5-18%. Risk of choledocolithiasis should be assessed in every patient who must undergo cholecystectomy to define the next step, which can be either surgical or endoscopic. The American Gastroenterology Society (ASGE) proposed a predictor scale of choledocolithiasis based on ultrasound findings, liver function tests, and the presence of pancreatitis and/or cholangitis. Therefore we aim to describe our experience managing patients with intermediate risk of choledocolithiasis according to the ASGE guidelines and actual presence of bile duct stones in magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. MethodsA retrospective observational study with a prospective database was conducted. Patients over 18 years old who complied with inclusion criteria between January and December 2019, were registered. Descriptive statistics of all study parameters were provided. Analysis included socio demographic data, laboratory values ​​and imaging. Bivariate, multivariate and ROC analysis was performed. Results 327 patients with biliary disease were classified as having intermediate risk for choledocolithiasis. Half the patients were at least 65 years old (iqr 20). All patients underwent MRI cholangiography. 24.77% were diagnosed with choledocolithiasis. Bile duct dilation was documented in only 3.06% of cases. Diagnosis of choledocolithiasis is associated with age OR: 1.87 (p 0.02), alkaline phosphatase OR: 2.44 (p 0.02) and bile duct dilation < 6 mm OR: 14.65 (p 0.00). ConclusionsThere is a high proportion of patients classified as intermediate risk who did not have choledocolithiasis by colangioresonance. There is a persistently high variability in accuracy of imaging techniques in intermediate risk patients. Therefore, enhancing the criteria to define intermediate risk for patients in order to optimize resources is of paramount importance.

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Ma ◽  
Paras Jethwa

Abstract Aim Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons (AUGIS) latest guideline advocates stratification of patients with gallstone disease to determine their risks of common bile duct (CBD) stone and to perform Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for those at intermediate risk. The study assessed the appropriateness of our local hospital's MRCP requests in accordance to the AUGIS standard. Method Inpatient MRCP requests for suspected ductal gallstones between June and December 2019 were identified retrospectively. Admission history, ultrasound, MRCP findings and liver function tests were collected from hospital electronic records. Patients with previous cholecystectomy were excluded. Patients were categorized into ‘low risk’, ‘intermediate risk’ and ‘high risk’. Results 67 patients were included in the study and 24 patients were discovered to have CBD stones on MRCP. The majority of patients (54%) were considered ‘intermediate risk’, whilst the ‘low risk’ group consisted of 13% of the MRCP requests and ‘high risk’ group comprised of 33%. Amongst those in the ‘low risk’ group, only 1 of 9 patients (11%) had cbd stone identified on MRCP. 19% patients in the intermediate group were found to have CBD stone, whilst 73% patients in the high risk group were identified to have CBD stone. On average, patients underwent MRCP within a day of request. Conclusion A high proportion of patients at high risk for CBD stone were referred for MRCP, contrary to AUGIS guideline. Inpatient MRCP referrals should be considered carefully in this category as it potentially increases length of stay without change in clinical management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Ma ◽  
P Jethwa

Abstract Aim Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons (AUGIS) latest guideline advocates stratification of patients with gallstone disease to determine their risks of common bile duct (CBD) stone and to perform Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for those at intermediate risk. The study assessed the appropriateness of our local hospital’s MRCP requests in accordance to the AUGIS standard. Method Inpatient MRCP requests for suspected ductal gallstones between June and December 2019 were identified retrospectively. Admission history, ultrasound, MRCP findings and liver function tests were collected from hospital electronic records. Patients with previous cholecystectomy were excluded. Patients were categorized into ‘low risk’, ‘intermediate risk’ and ‘high risk’. Results 67 patients were included in the study and 24 patients were discovered to have CBD stones on MRCP. The majority of patients (54%) were considered ‘intermediate risk’, whilst the ‘low risk’ group consisted of 13% of the MRCP requests and ‘high risk’ group comprised of 33 %. Amongst those in the ‘low risk’ group, only 1 of 9 patients (11%) had cbd stone identified on MRCP. 19% patients in the intermediate group were found to have CBD stone, whilst 73% patients in the high-risk group were identified to have CBD stone. On average, patients underwent MRCP within a day of request. Conclusions A high proportion of patients at high risk for CBD stone were referred for MRCP, contrary to AUGIS guideline. Inpatient MRCP referrals should be considered carefully in this category as it potentially increases length of stay without change in clinical management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Hunter

Abstract Aim To highlight the importance of appropriate imaging modalities for abnormal clinical presentations. Method Xyo woman presented with severe right upper-quadrant pain to the emergency department. Prior history of colicky abdominal pain for 1 year, right-sided nephrectomy and hypertension. She stated that the current epsiode of pain was the worst so far, becoming more persistent, prompting her to call an ambulance. Cholecystitis was suspected, so a Computed Tomography abdomen/pelvis was performed. A dilated, inflamed gallbladder was noted in contact with the right psoas major, with what appeared to be an abscess in the right psoas major. Results A Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography was performed, which demonstrated that the aforementioned abscess was in fact a large cavity within the psoas major, containing up to 15 gallstones. Cholelithiasis was also seen, with common bile duct dilatation and evidence of a common bile duct stone. An Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography was performed, and X recovered well post-procedure with analgesia and antibiotics. Conclusions Acute cholecystitis/intra-abdominal gallstones may result in abscess/cavity formations and abnormal biliary clinical presentations. It is important therefore to fully investigate abnormal hepatobiliary imaging with multiple imaging modalities to allow for accurate diagnosis and appropriate further management of presentations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 4981-4989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Grani ◽  
Valeria Ramundo ◽  
Rosa Falcone ◽  
Livia Lamartina ◽  
Teresa Montesano ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Ultrasonography (US) is considered the most sensitive tool for imaging persistent or recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in the neck. Objective To clarify the usefulness of routine neck US in low- and intermediate-risk patients with PTC with no evidence of disease 1 year after thyroidectomy. Design Retrospective analysis of prospectively recorded data. Setting Academic center. Patients Two hundred twenty-six patients with PTC with sonographically normal neck lymph nodes and unstimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels that were either undetectable (<0.20 ng/mL) or low (0.21 to 0.99 ng/mL) at the 1-year evaluation. Interventions Yearly assessment: unstimulated serum Tg level, anti-Tg-antibody (TgAb) titer, TSH levels, and ultrasound examination of neck lymph nodes. Main Outcome Measures Rates of ultrasonographic lymph node abnormalities at the 3-year and last follow-up visits. Results In patients with an undetectable Tg level at the 1-year evaluation, sonographically suspicious neck lymph nodes were found in 1.2% of patients at 3 years and in 1.8% at the last visit [negative predictive values (NPVs) of 1-year Tg < 0.2 ng/mL: 98.8% (95% CI 95.8% to 99.9%) and 98.2% (95% to 99.6%), respectively]. Similar NPVs emerged for low detectable 1-year Tg levels [98.2% (90.3% to 99.9%) and 94.5% (84.9% to 98.9%) at the 3-year and last visits, respectively]. Seventy-five percent of the nodal lesions were likely false positive; none required treatment. Conclusions Low- and intermediate-risk patients with PTC with negative ultrasound findings and unstimulated Tg levels <1 ng/mL at the 1-year evaluation can be safely followed with clinical assessments and unstimulated serum Tg determinations. Neck US might be repeated if TgAb titers rise, or unstimulated Tg levels exceed 1 ng/mL.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 720-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Ward ◽  
Laura M. Fluke ◽  
Benjamin D. Hoagland ◽  
Gregory J. Zarow ◽  
Jenny M. Held ◽  
...  

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the gold standard in evaluation of the biliary tree for choledocholithiasis. Formal indications for magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in suspected choledocholithiasis are lacking. Our objective was to determine if MRCP affects management of patients who otherwise would undergo ERCP. A review was conducted of all MRCPs and ERCPs at our institution from 2008 to 2012 with suspected choledocholithiasis. Patients who underwent MRCP and ERCP were compared with those who underwent ERCP alone. Demographic data were collected and notation of whether a post-MRCP ERCP occurred was the primary variable. MRCP was performed in 107 patients for choledocholithiasis. Eighty-eight patients were negative for choledocholithiasis (82%) and 76 were discharged without ERCP (71%). Thirty-one patients received a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis and were referred for ERCP. Of the 19 patients with MRCP-diagnosed common bile duct stones, 95 per cent were confirmed by ERCP (odds ratio 18.0, P > 0.05; agreement 77%, sensitivity 0.76, specificity 0.86, positive predictive value 0.95, negative predictive value 0.50). Length of stay was similar for all groups. A total of 131 patients underwent ERCP without a preprocedural MRCP. Choledocholithiasis was found in 116 patients (92%), whereas 12 patients (9%) had no common bile duct stones and three had an alternate diagnosis. In conclusion, MRCP significantly affected the management of patients who would have undergone ERCP. MRCP did not increase length of stay and contributed to the 95 per cent positivity rate of subsequent ERCPs. These data illustrate the utility of MRCP in suspected choledocholithiasis patients at a low cost with regard to risk and time.


Author(s):  
A Nurman A Nurman

The gallbladder serves as the repository for bile produced in the liver. However, bile within the gallbladder may become supersaturated with cholesterol, leading to crystal precipitation and subsequent gallstone formation. Gallstone is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases in clinical practice. Common bile duct stone may be silent and symptomless; alternatively the stone can cause acute cholangitis with jaundice, pain and fever and acute pancreatitis. Imaging of the gallbladder is typically requested for evaluation of right upper quadrant pain in patients with or without fever and jaundice. Hence,imaging is central to the investigation and diagnoses of choledocholithiasis. There are many options in the field of imaging of choledocholithiasis from a simple to more sophisticated examinations. Ultrasonography (US) has been the traditional modality for evaluating gallbladder disease, primarily owing to its high sensitivity and specificity for both stone disease and gallbladder inflammation. However, US is limited by patient body habitus, with degradation of image quality and anatomic detail in obese individuals. With the advent of faster and more efficient imaging techniques, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has assumed an increasing role as an adjunct modality for gallbladder imaging. MR imaging allows simultaneous anatomic and physiologic assessment of the gallbladder and biliary tract. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is excellent for identifying the presence and the level of biliary obstruction. With newer diagnostic imaging technologies emerging, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is evolving into a predominantly therapeutic procedure.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhanul Huda ◽  
Manisha Naithani ◽  
Sudhir K Singh ◽  
Sarama Saha

ABSTRACT Spontaneous perforation of extrahepatic biliary system is a rare and potentially fatal cause of acute abdomen. Clinical presentation is as biliary peritonitis. This condition is rarely suspected as a cause of peritonitis preoperatively and correct diagnosis is made during surgery. If suspected, diagnosis can be made by various imaging techniques like hepatobiliary scintigraphy, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). As these imaging techniques are not readily available, especially in low socioeconomic countries, we hereby report a case of spontaneous common bile duct (CBD) perforation, which was diagnosed preoperatively by estimation of ascitic fluid-to-serum bilirubin ratio, a simple, quick, and cost-effective test. How to cite this article Huda F, Naithani M, Singh SK, Saha S. Ascitic Fluid/Serum Bilirubin Ratio as an aid in Preoperative Diagnosis of Choleperitoneum in a Neglected Case of Spontaneous Common Bile Duct Perforation. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):185-187.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-53
Author(s):  
Utsav Joshi ◽  
Ramesh Singh Bhandari

Background: Bile duct injury is a serious complication following both open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The extent of injury may be severe enough to consider biliary reconstruction procedures like Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy or even hepatectomy in rare instances for the definitive management.Case: A 56 year old female, who underwent open cholecystectomy and detected bile duct injury intraoperatively. Small feeding tube was placed in the bile duct, exteriorized and patient was referred to our center for further management. Liver function tests at presentation revealed cholestatic patterns of liver derangement but the patient did not show any signs suggestive of sepsis. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography revealed complete stricture of common hepatic duct. Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography revealed Bismuth type 4 bile duct stricture. The plan was to perform a bilateral hepaticojejunostomy, however, because of the very difficult anatomy and failure to identify the right duct, right hepatectomy with left duct hepaticojejunostomy was performed as a definitive management for her type IV bile duct injury. The patient had an uneventful post-operative course.Conclusion: Infrequently, liver resection remains an important therapeutic option in cases of complicated and major forms of bile duct injuries where the bilateral biliary reconstruction is not feasible.


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