Bile sludge

Bile sludge
A mixture of microscopic particulate matter in bile that occurs when particles of material precipitate from bile. (Bile is the fluid that is made by the liver. It is stored in the gallbladder until after a meal when it passes out of the gallbladder and through the common bile duct into the intestine to help digest fat in the meal.) The composition of biliary sludge varies. The most common particulate components of biliary sludge are cholesterol crystals and calcium salts. Biliary sludge has been associated with certain conditions including rapid weight loss, fasting, pregnancy, medications (ceftriaxone, octreotide), and bone marrow or solid organ transplantation although it most commonly occurs in individuals with no identifiable condition. Biliary sludge can be looked upon as a condition of microscopic gallstones, although it is not clear at what size the particles in biliary sludge should be considered gallstones. More important than the differentiation by size is whether or not there are symptoms since symptoms of biliary sludge or gallstones are treated similarly. Biliary sludge usually causes no symptoms and may appear and disappear over time. Biliary sludge, however, may cause intermittent symptoms and, on occasion the particles may grow in size and become larger gallstones. The most common symptom of biliary sludge — when it causes symptoms — is pain in the abdomen often associated with nausea and vomiting. This occurs when the particles obstruct the ducts leading from the gallbladder to the intestine. Biliary sludge also may cause more serious complications, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), and inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis). Biliary sludge can be detected with ultrasound of the abdomen or by directly examining bile contents under a microscope (bile microscopy). If patients with biliary sludge develop symptoms or complications, gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) is performed as treatment. Since sludge usually does not cause symptoms, it should be strongly suspected that a patients symptoms are due to sludge before the gallbladder is removed.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sludge, biliary — A mixture of microscopic particulate matter in bile that occurs when particles of material precipitate from bile. (Bile is the fluid that is made by the liver. It is stored in the gallbladder until after a meal when it passes out of the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Biliary sludge — A mixture of microscopic particulate matter in bile that occurs when particles of material precipitate from bile. (Bile is the fluid that is made by the liver. It is stored in the gallbladder until after a meal when it passes out of the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Gallstones, microscopic — A mixture of microscopic particulate matter in bile, also called biliary sludge, that occurs when particles of material precipitate from bile. (Bile is the fluid that is made by the liver. It is stored in the gallbladder until after a meal when… …   Medical dictionary

  • Microscopic gallstones — A mixture of microscopic particulate matter in bile, also called biliary sludge, that occurs when particles of material precipitate from bile. (Bile is the fluid that is made by the liver. It is stored in the gallbladder until after a meal when… …   Medical dictionary

  • Gallstone — Classification and external resources Numerous small gallstones, composed largely of cholesterol ICD 10 K …   Wikipedia

  • Ascariasis — is a human disease caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides . Perhaps as many as one quarter of the world s people are infected [cite journal |author=Williams Blangero S, VandeBerg JL, Subedi J, et al |title=Genes on chromosomes 1… …   Wikipedia

  • Feces — Fecal Matter redirects here. For the American grunge band, see Fecal Matter (band). Not to be confused with excretion …   Wikipedia

  • Camp Blood (album) — Infobox Album Name = Camp Blood Type = Album Artist = Bile Released = 2005 Recorded = Genre = Grindcore Sludge metal Length = 34:07 Label = No Escape Records Producer = Erwin Hermsen Bile Camp Blood is the second album by Dutch band Bile, now… …   Wikipedia

  • Copper in health — Normal absorption and distribution of copper. Cu = copper, CP = ceruloplasmin, green = ATP7B carrying copper. Copper is an essential trace element that is vital to the health of all living things (humans, plants, animals, and microorganisms). In… …   Wikipedia

  • Pharmaceutical drug — Medication redirects here. For other uses, see Medication (disambiguation). Medicines redirects here. For other uses, see Medicine (disambiguation). A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”