Can intrahepatic bile duct stones be shattered?

Written by Zhang Tao

Hepatobiliary Surgery

Updated on September 01, 2024

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Asymptomatic intrahepatic bile duct stones generally do not require treatment. Currently, most hepatobiliary surgeons believe that if patients undergo shock wave lithotripsy, the stones may migrate to the extrahepatic bile duct, forming common bile duct stones, and the patient will experience obvious abdominal pain, jaundice, and other symptoms, causing great trouble. Therefore, they oppose extracorporeal shock wave treatment for intrahepatic bile duct stones and suggest regular follow-up with ultrasound or CT, adopting more reasonable methods for treatment.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

1min 1sec

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Do intrahepatic bile duct stones fear cold?

Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones can possibly experience chills. This is because patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones often have concurrent cholangitis, which manifests as chills, high fever, prominent upper abdominal pain, and jaundice. In severe cases, it can even lead to acute suppurative cholangitis, septic shock, and death. Therefore, for patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones presenting with significant symptoms, early surgical treatment is advised. Surgery involves opening the bile duct to remove the stones, which can be curative. Post-surgery, it is still necessary to avoid spicy and irritating foods, such as peppers, barbecues, and garlic, and to mainly consume a bland diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits to facilitate recovery. After recovery, patients generally do not experience significant discomfort.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

52sec

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Is running effective for intrahepatic bile duct stones?

For patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, frequent running has no effect on treatment. For patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, since it often coincides with cholangitis, they may experience significant pain in the upper right abdomen, along with clinical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chills, high fever, and jaundice. Therefore, when symptoms occur in patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, surgery is required to achieve treatment effects. The main surgical method is a choledochotomy for stone removal, which can cure the condition by removing the stones. Generally, treatment effects cannot be achieved through diet and exercise alone. Of course, avoiding spicy and irritating foods can reduce the likelihood of cholangitis and somewhat alleviate symptoms.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

58sec

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Will liver bile duct stones cause facial spots?

Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones generally do not experience facial pigmentation. The symptoms of intrahepatic bile duct stones primarily manifest as acute cholangitis, with noticeable right upper abdominal pain, and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Some patients may also exhibit symptoms of systemic infection such as chills, high fever, and fatigue. Additionally, obstructive jaundice can occur, characterized by lighter stool color, darker urine color, and yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes. However, facial pigmentation generally does not occur. Therefore, for patients with recurrent intrahepatic bile duct stones, early surgical treatment should be considered. Surgery is the only definitive treatment to relieve the condition effectively.

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Written by Zhang Tao

Hepatobiliary Surgery

48sec

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Symptoms of intrahepatic bile duct stones

Intrahepatic bile duct stones, depending on the duration and pathology, can present with various clinical manifestations. In the early stages, patients generally do not show obvious symptoms, with stones limited to a certain segment within the intrahepatic bile ducts. In later stages, stones can be found throughout the intra- and extrahepatic biliary system, and may even lead to biliary cirrhosis, liver atrophy, and liver abscesses. The clinical manifestations can include: first, pain in the upper abdomen; second, a long history of biliary tract diseases, with patients experiencing chills, fever, and jaundice; third, frequent pain and discomfort in the liver area on the affected side and the lower chest, which can radiate to the shoulder and back, etc.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

50sec

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Can liver intrahepatic bile duct stones be detected by ultrasound?

Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones can be detected via ultrasound examination, where the stones are clearly visible, especially for those with larger stones. These patients may also experience recurrent right upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. For patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones who exhibit significant symptoms, it is advisable to undergo surgical treatment as soon as possible. Only by surgically opening the bile duct and removing the stones can a cure be achieved. However, if the stones are relatively small and asymptomatic, they might not be detected during an ultrasound examination, and no special treatment is required at that time. If small gallstones are observed, it is recommended to regularly recheck with an ultrasound to monitor changes in size.