Interní Med. 2008; 10(1): 19-24

Cholelithiasis

prof. MUDr. Jiří Ehrmann CSc

II. interní klinika FN a LF UP Olomouc

Gallstones, cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis are a common and costly health problem in the world. The prevalence of gallstones is approximately 10 % and increases with age in all racial groups. The description of the principles of cholesterol solubility and cholesterol supersaturation was fundamental for understanding of a cholesterol gallstone formation. The prevalence of cholesterol or mixed gallstones ranges around 90 % or 10 % of pigment gallstones respectively. Asymptomatic cholelithiasis ranges from 30 to 70 %. The typical symptoms of gallstones are biliary indigestion and biliary colic, on the other hand cholecystitis and cholangitis are the most often complications. Cholestasis the concomitant syndrom of choledocholithiasis constitutes a general differential diagnostic medical problem. There are no laboratory tests to differ extrahepatic from intrahepatic cholestasis. This is the main reason for so many imaging diagnostic methods for example USG, ERCP and others. Laparoscopic cholecystektomy is an usual treatment of cholecystolithiasis (with acute and chronic cholecystitis), ERCP for removing of stones in choledocholithiasis. Dissolution therapy (oral bile acids – chenodeoxycholic or ursodeoxycholic acids) has limited value, except in patients who are poor candidates for surgery.

Keywords: ates for surgery. Key words:

Published: April 1, 2008  Show citation