Choledocholithiasis resident survival guide

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vendhan Ramanujam M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

Choledocholithiasis are bile duct stones that can be either asymptomatic, symptomatic without complications or symptomatic with complications of cholangitis or pancreatitis.

Terms	Definitions
Choledocholithiasis (bile duct stones)	Choledocholithiasis are crystallized pieces of bile containing cholesterol and bilirubin in the bile duct. It usually results from the migration of gallstones from the gallbladder into the biliary tract.
Primary choledocholithiasis	Primary choledocholithiasis are biliary tract stones resulting from biliary stasis and not from the migration of gallstones from the gallbladder into the biliary tract.
Asymptomatic choledocholithiasis	Asymptomatic choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of stones in the bile duct, that might be detected during imaging studies of the abdomen, in the absence of any symptoms.
Symptomatic and uncomplicated choledocholithiasis	Symptomatic and uncomplicated choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of stones in the bile duct that are associated with symptoms in the absence of complications such as acute cholangitis or pancreatitis.
Symptomatic and complicated choledocholithiasis	Symptomatic and complicated choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of stones in the bile duct with symptoms and complications such as acute cholangitis or pancreatitis.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

• Complicated cholelithiasis

Common Causes

• Cholelithiasis
• Primary choledocholithiasis

Management

Asymptomatic Choledocholithiasis

Shown below is an algorithm depicting the management of choledocholithiasis according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).

Incidental bile duct stones ❑ On noninvasive imaging for nonbiliary indications ❑ During evaluation of symptomatic cholelithiasis ❑ Intraoperatively during cholecystectomy

CBD stones discovered during imaging

CBD stones discovered during cholecystectomy

❑ Preoperative ERCP and CBD stone removal, and ❑ Elective cholecystectomy

❑ Intraoperative CBD exploration and stone removal

❑ Postoperative ERCP and CBD stone removal

Symptomatic Choledocholithiasis

Shown below is an algorithm depicting the management of symptomatic cholelithiasis and suspected choledocholithiasis according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).

Characterize the symptoms: ❑ Acute or intermittent RUQ or epigastric pain ❑ Sharp, severe and steady ❑ > 6 hours ❑ Radiation to the right shoulder blade ❑ Radiation to the back ❑ After food intake ❑ Jaundice ❑ Pale stools ❑ Dark urine ❑ Fever ❑ Nausea & vomiting ❑ Diaphoresis ❑ Altered mental status ❑ History of recurrent symptoms ❑ History of previous gallbladder disease

Examine the patient: ❑ Altered mental status ❑ Fever ❑ Dehydration ❑ Jaundice ❑ Hypotension ❑ Tachycardia ❑ Dyspnea ❑ Hypoxemia ❑ Abdominal tenderness

Order laboratory tests: ❑ CBC ❑ BMP ❑ CRP ❑ Total bilirubin ❑ Direct bilirubin ❑ Albumin ❑ AST ❑ ALT ❑ Alkaline phosphatase ❑ GGT ❑ Amylase ❑ Lipase ❑ Order transabdominal USG (TAUSG)

Diagnostic predictors for the presence of common bile duct stones: Very strong: ❑ Bilirubin >4 mg/dL ❑ CBD stone on TAUSG ❑ Clinical ascending cholangitis ❑ Fever ❑ Jaundice ❑ RUQ pain Strong: ❑ Bilirubin 1.8-4 mg/dL ❑ Dilated CBD (>6 mm with gallbladder in situ) on TAUSG Moderate: ❑ Age >55 years ❑ Abnormal LFT other than bilirubin (elevated alkaline phosphatase & GGT) ❑ Clinical biliary pancreatitis ❑ Severe epigastric pain radiating to the back ❑ Abdominal tenderness ❑ Nausea ❑ Vomiting ❑ Fever ❑ Dyspnea ❑ Tachycardia ❑ Hypotension ❑ Hypoxemia

No predictors

One strong and/or at least one moderate predictor

Presence of any very strong or both strong predictors

Low risk choledocholithiasis

Intermediate risk choledocholithiasis

High risk choledocholithiasis

Patient with symptomatic cholelithiasis proven by GBS or biliary sludge seen during TAUSG

Laparoscopic IOC or US

Preoperative EUS/MRCP

Preoperative ERCP & CBD stone removal

❑ Cholecystectomy ❑ No preoperative EUS/MRCP or intraoperative cholangiography/US/CBD exploration

CBD stones present

CBD stones absent

CBD stones present

CBD stones absent

If GBS or sludge seen during imaging

❑ Laparoscopic CBD exploration or ❑ Post-operative ERCP

❑ Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

❑ Preoperative EUS or MRCP

❑ Laparoscopic cholecystectomy

❑ Elective cholecystectomy

ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; BMP: Basic metabolic profile; CBC: Complete blood count; CBD: Common bile duct; CRP: C-reactive protein; ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; EUS: Endoscopic ultrasound; GBS: Gallbladder stone; GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; IOC: Intraoperative cholangiography; LFT: Liver function tests; MRCP: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; RUQ: Right Upper Quadrant; Sx: Symptom; US: Ultrasound; W/: With; W/O: Without

Symptomatic and Complicated Choledocholithiasis

Symptomatic and complicated choledocholithiasis refers to the presence of stones in the bile duct with symptoms and complications such as acute cholangitis or pancreatitis.

• For the management of cholangitis, please click here.
• For the management of pancreatitis, please click here.

Do's

• Order serum liver biochemical tests and a transabdominal ultrasound of the right upper quadrant during the initial evaluation of suspected choledocholithiasis. These tests should be used to risk-stratify patients to guide further evaluation and management (Grade B).

• Consider EUS or MRCP in the diagnostic evaluation of postcholecystectomy patients suspected of having choledocholithiasis when initial laboratory and ultrasonography data are abnormal yet non diagnostic (Grade C).

• Consider sphincter of Oddi dysfunction as a differential diagnosis if EUS or MRCP did not detect any stones in the bile duct of postcholecystectomy patients suspected of having choledocholithiasis.

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is preferred over open laparoscopy but conversion to open may be necessary and should not be considered a failure in the management.

Dont's

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is contraindicated in untreated coagulopathy, lack of equipment, lack of surgeon expertise, hostile abdomen, advanced cirrhosis/liver failure, and suspected gallbladder cancer.

References

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