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Hepatolithiasis
Are intrahepatic bile duct stones the same as gallstones?
Intrahepatic bile duct stones are a type of gallstone, and patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones often develop cholangitis. Thus, patients may exhibit symptoms such as chills, high fever, jaundice, and significant upper abdominal pain. They might also experience nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, the condition can lead to acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis, septic shock, and even result in death. Therefore, intrahepatic bile duct stones should be taken seriously. If significant symptoms occur, it is advisable to undergo surgery as soon as possible. The surgical method can be a laparoscopic choledochotomy to remove the stones, which can be curative. Gallstones also include gallbladder stones, which are a common type clinically. If symptoms occur, the treatment method is also surgical, involving the removal of the gallbladder to achieve a cure.
Ultrasound presentation of intrahepatic bile duct stones
Intrahepatic bile duct stones can generally be detected via ultrasound, as they show up as strong echoes due to their solid nature which reflects sound waves back to the surface. However, the majority of these intrahepatic bile duct stones are asymptomatic. Since they rarely cause dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, and as long as the bile ducts do not appear dilated, thickened, or tortuous on the ultrasound, they usually do not have any significant impact. Therefore, most intrahepatic bile duct stones do not require treatment and can be managed through observation.
How long does it take for intrahepatic bile duct stones to form?
Intrahepatic bile duct stones are a relatively common biliary system disease, related to patients' poor lifestyle and dietary habits. The formation time of intrahepatic bile duct stones varies; some people may form stones within a few months, while others may take several years, or even more than a decade or decades to form. Therefore, it is recommended that patients go to a regular public hospital for examination and maintain a light diet with plenty of vegetables.
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.
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.
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.
Multiple intrahepatic bile duct stones
Multiple intrahepatic bile duct stones are a description used in imaging studies such as ultrasound and CT, meaning there are multiple stones within the intrahepatic bile ducts. Particularly in cases where there is recurrent upper right abdominal pain, the appearance of jaundice, chills, and high fever, it is important to pay attention and consider early surgical treatment. The main surgical approach is laparoscopic choledocholithotomy, which can completely treat the condition by removing the stones. Additionally, for patients with intrahepatic bile duct stones, it is also important to avoid spicy and irritating foods in their diet to reduce inflammatory irritation and better promote recovery from the condition. The diet should primarily consist of light meals, and eating fresh vegetables and fruits can better facilitate relief from the condition.
Can people with intrahepatic bile duct stones eat sweet potatoes?
Intrahepatic bile duct stones can cause upper abdominal pain during acute episodes, which is generally closely related to the patient's careless diet. Sweet potatoes are a type of food that may induce gastric acid production. If a patient has intraheptic bile duct stones and consumes sweet potatoes, it may cause stomach discomfort. Therefore, it is recommended that patients generally avoid eating sweet potatoes or not eat them excessively.
How is intrahepatic bile duct stones treated?
Intrahepatic bile duct stones refer to stones located in the branches of the bile duct above the junction of the left and right hepatic ducts. Surgical treatment is currently the main method of treatment. Treatment should be based on the number and distribution of stones within the bile ducts, the location and extent of hepatic and biliary strictures, pathological changes in the liver, the state of liver function, and the patient's overall symptoms. Appropriate surgical approaches should be adopted, including hepatectomy, high position bile ductotomy for stone removal, transhepatic choledochotomy for stone removal, biliary-intestinal internal drainage, liver transplantation, etc.
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.