"Intrahepatic bile duct stones"

Written by Zhang Tao
Hepatobiliary Surgery
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Intrahepatic bile duct stones, as the name implies, are stones located within the bile ducts inside the liver. The biliary tract is divided into extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts. The intrahepatic bile ducts refer to the left and right hepatic ducts and their related branches. The intrahepatic bile ducts evolve from the left and right hepatic ducts into the common hepatic duct, common bile duct, and gallbladder, which are part of what we commonly refer to as the extrahepatic bile ducts. The symptoms of intrahepatic bile duct stones are not as apparent as those of common bile duct stones, but most intrahepatic bile duct stones cause upper abdominal pain in patients; generally, jaundice does not occur.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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How to deal with inflammation and pain caused by intrahepatic bile duct stones?

For patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, acute cholangitis may occur, which can cause fever and significant upper abdominal pain. At this time, antibiotic treatment should be used to control the infection, and the condition can be alleviated once the inflammation is under control. Moreover, if the condition recurs repeatedly, surgical treatment should be chosen. Only by surgically removing the stones can the symptoms be completely cured. Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones should also be careful with their diet. They should avoid spicy and irritating foods to reduce inflammation, and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamins to better promote recovery. Patients who have undergone surgery should also have regular ultrasound check-ups to dynamically observe changes in their condition.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Will intrahepatic bile duct stones cause a bluish complexion?

Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, if experiencing an episode, may exhibit symptoms such as sharp pain in the upper right abdomen, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea. These patients are prone to acute cholangitis. Additionally, this condition is a type of biliary colic, thus the pain is significant and may even manifest as a bluish complexion. Therefore, patients with prominent symptoms should undergo surgery as soon as possible. Surgery is the only definitive treatment. Although the use of antibiotics for infection control can alleviate the inflammation and improve the condition temporarily, recurrence is common.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Is the recurrence rate of intrahepatic bile duct stones high?

Intrahepatic bile duct stones can potentially recur. Intrahepatic bile duct stones are often accompanied by acute cholangitis, resulting in significant right upper abdominal pain, and may also present with nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. When symptoms occur, surgery can be performed to open the bile duct and remove the stones for a radical cure. However, there is also a possibility of recurrence in postoperative patients. The likelihood of recurrence cannot be definitively determined but should be assessed based on the condition of the illness. Therefore, patients who have undergone surgery should also have regular ultrasonographic follow-ups to dynamically observe changes in their condition and prevent the worsening of the disease.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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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.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Is the incidence of intrahepatic bile duct stones high?

Intrahepatic bile duct stones have a relatively low incidence rate. They are a type of gallstone, and compared to gallbladder stones, their occurrence is less frequent. Patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones often experience concurrent cholangitis, leading to symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, significant nausea, and vomiting, along with other gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, for patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, when significant symptoms occur, not only is the use of antibiotics necessary to treat the infection and control the inflammation, but surgery is also required to achieve therapeutic effects. The primary surgical method is choledochotomy for stone removal, which can lead to better treatment outcomes after the stones are extracted.