Can intrahepatic bile duct stones be shattered?

Written by Zhang Tao

Hepatobiliary Surgery

Updated on September 01, 2024

00:00

00:00

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.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

49sec

home-news-image

Can gallstones within the liver that don't cause pain be ignored?

For patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones who do not experience any discomfort, abdominal pain, or jaundice, it is possible to temporarily observe without special treatment. However, special attention should be paid to the diet. It is advisable to avoid spicy and stimulating foods such as chili peppers, barbecue, and garlic, as these inflammatory irritants may cause local inflammation and even lead to acute cholecystitis and cholangitis. Additionally, the diet should also avoid foods high in cholesterol and fats, such as animal offal and fatty meats, as these foods can exacerbate symptoms. Therefore, although patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones may not exhibit any symptoms, it is still important to pay attention to daily life.

home-news-image

Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

57sec

home-news-image

Can MRCP detect intrahepatic bile duct stones?

Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones can undergo MRCP examination. For patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, in addition to being noticeable in ultrasound, CT, and MRI examinations, MRCP can also be performed, and it is also a method of treatment. Moreover, whether treatment is needed for patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones mainly depends on the symptoms. For asymptomatic patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, if the stones are relatively small in size, no special treatment is necessary. Avoiding spicy and irritating foods in the diet to reduce inflammatory stimuli can help manage the condition. However, for patients with larger intrahepatic bile duct stones, acute cholangitis may occur, presenting as significant upper abdominal pain. In such cases, early surgical intervention should be considered for treatment.

home-news-image

Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

54sec

home-news-image

Is the likelihood of malignant transformation of intrahepatic bile duct stones high?

Intrahepatic bile duct stones have a relatively low probability of becoming cancerous. Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones may develop acute cholangitis, presenting with symptoms like severe pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and systemic infectious symptoms such as chills and high fever, but generally, these stones do not become cancerous. When patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones exhibit significant symptoms, it is important to take them seriously and perform timely surgical treatment to achieve a radical cure. The main surgical approach is laparoscopic salpingotomy for stone removal, which can lead to better treatment outcomes. Additionally, dietary adjustments should include avoiding spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammatory stimuli and better prevent exacerbation of the condition.

home-news-image

Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

46sec

home-news-image

How should elderly people with intrahepatic bile duct stones be treated?

For patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, their treatment is mainly based on the presence or absence of symptoms and the size of the stones. For elderly patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, if there are no obvious symptoms, no special treatment is needed at this time. In terms of diet, it is advised to avoid spicy and stimulating food, foods that are difficult to digest, and foods high in cholesterol. A light diet, rich in fresh vegetables and fruits, can help manage the condition. If a patient has large intrahepatic bile duct stones, they may repeatedly experience cholangitis and recurrent right upper abdominal pain and discomfort. In such cases, surgical treatment should be considered to potentially cure the condition.

home-news-image

Written by Liu Wu Cai

Hepatobiliary Surgery

46sec

home-news-image

Can intrahepatic bile duct stones with calcification foci become larger?

When intrahepatic bile duct stones are accompanied by calcification, the volume may increase. The calcification is a description found in ultrasonography and CT imaging, and is considered a benign lesion that does not require special treatment. Regular follow-up with ultrasound can be conducted to dynamically observe changes in volume, which generally tends to increase at a relatively slow pace. Of course, for patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, if acute cholangitis occurs repeatedly, it will manifest as discomfort or pain in the upper right abdomen. Therefore, early surgical treatment should be undertaken to fully address the issue. The mentioned method mainly involves laparoscopic choledocholithotomy, which can achieve better treatment outcomes.