Skip to main content

Natural History of Biliary Lithiasis

  • Chapter
Biliary Lithiasis
  • 1525 Accesses

Abstract

Biliary lithiasis is a common disease and is present in up to 20–30% of western populations. The prevalence increases with age, being <10% in populations under the age of 30 years and approximately 30% in those over the age of 60 [1]. This prevalence is similar in studies throughout Europe, including the UK. Owing to increasing life expectancy among patients throughout Europe, the prevalence of biliary lithiasis is also likely to increase. This review of the natural history of biliary lithiasis will deal with both choledocholithiasis (bile duct stones) and cholelithiasis (gallbladder stones).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Heaton KW, Braddon FE, Mountford RA et al (1991) Symptomatic and silent gall stones in the community. Gut 32:316–320

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Johnson AG, Hosking SW (1987) Appraisal of the management of bile duct stones Br J Surg 74:555–560

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Saharia PC, Zuidema GD, Cameron JL (1977) Primary common duct stones. Ann Surg 185:598–604

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kaufman HS, Magnuson TH, Lillemoe KD et al (1989) The role of bacteria in gallbladder and common duct stone formation. Ann Surg 209:584–591

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cetta F (1991) The role of bacteria in pigment gallstone disease. Ann Surg 213:315–326

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cetta FM (1986) Bile infection documented as initial event in the pathogenesis of brown pigment biliary stones. Hepatology 6:482–489

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Denbesten L, Doty JE (1981) Pathogenesis and management of choledocholithiasis. Surg Clin North Am 61:893–907

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Glenn F, Beil AR Jr (1964) Choledocholithiasis demonstrated at 586 operations. Surg Gynecol Obstet 118:499–506

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Glenn F, McSherry CK (1975) Calculous biliary tract disease. In: Ravitch MM (ed) Current problems in surgery. Yearbook Publishers, Chicago. pp 1–38

    Google Scholar 

  10. Joyce WP, Keane R, Burke GJ et al (1991) Identification of bile duct stones in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Br J Surg 78:1174–1176

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Madden JL, Vanderheyden L, Kandalaft S (1968) The nature and surgical significance of common duct stones. Surg Gynecol Obstet 126:3–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Castelain M, Grimaldi C, Harris AG et al (1993) Relationship between cystic duct diameter and the presence of cholelithiasis. Dig Dis Sci 38:2220–2224

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Taylor TV, Armstrong CP (1987) Migration of gall stones. Br Med J 294:1320–1322

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Millbourn E (1941) Klinische Studien über die Choledochlithiasis. Acta Chir Scand 86 Suppl 65

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wenckert A, Robertson B (1966) The natural course of gallstone disease: eleven-year review of 781 nonoperated cases. Gastroenterology 50:376–381

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Frossard JL, Hadengue A, Amouyal G et al (2000) Choledocholithiasis: a prospective study of spontaneous common bile duct stone migration. Gastrointest Endosc 51:175–177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. United States National Institutes of Health (2002) State-of-the-science statement on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for diagnosis and therapy. NIH Consens State Sci Statements 19:1–26

    Google Scholar 

  18. Greiner L, Munks C, Heil W, Jakobeit C (1990) Gall bladder stone fragments in feces after biliary extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Gastroenterology 98:1620–1624

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Oria A, Frider B, Alvarez J et al (1988) Biliary and pancreatic obstruction during gallstone migration. Int J Pancreatol 3:157–164

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Festi D, Sottili S, Colecchia A et al (1999) Clinical manifestations of gallstone disease: evidence from the Multicenter Italian Study On Cholelithiasis (MICOL). Hepatology 30:839–846

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Anciaux ML, Pelletier G, Attali P et al (1986) Prospective study of clinical and biochemical features of symptomatic choledocholithiasis. Dig Dis Sci 31:449–453

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Katz D, Nikfarjam M, Sfakiotaki A Christophi C (2004) Selective endoscopic cholangiography for the detection of common bile duct stones in patients with cholelithiasis. Endoscopy 36:1045–1049

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Shiozawa S, Tsuchiya A, Kim DH et al (2005) Useful predictive factors of common bile duct stones prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones. Hepatogastroenterology 52:1662–1665

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Alponat A, Kum CK, Rajnakova A et al (1997) Predictive factors for synchronous common bile duct stones in patients with cholelithiasis. Surg Endosc 11:928–932

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Onken JE, Brazer SR, Eisen GM et al (1996) Predicting the presence of choledocholithiasis in patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis. Am J Gastroenterol 91:762–767

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Rijna H, Borgstein PJ, Meuwissen SG et al (1995) Selective preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in laparoscopic biliary surgery. Br J Surg 82:1130–1133

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Barkun AN, Barkun JS, Fried GM et al (1994) Useful predictors of bile duct stones in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. McGill Gallstone Treatment Group. Ann Surg 220:32–39

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hauer-Jensen M, Karesen R, Nygaard K et al (1986) Consequences of routine peroperative cholangiography during cholecystectomy for gallstone disease: a prospective, randomized study. World J Surg 10:996–1002

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Thurston OG, McDougall RM (1976) The effect of hepatic bile on retained common duct stones. Surg Gynecol Obstet 143:625–627

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Acosta JM, Ledesma CL (1974) Gallstone migration as a cause of acute pancreatitis. N Engl J Med 290:484–487

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Acosta MJ, Rossi R, Ledesma CL (1977) The usefulness of stool screening for diagnosing cholelithiasis in acute pancreatitis. A description of the technique. Am J Dig Dis 22:168–172

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kelly TR (1976) Gallstone pancreatitis: pathophysiology. Surgery 80:488–492

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Crump C (1931) The incidence of gallstones and gallbladder disease. Surg Gynecol Obstet 53:447–457

    Google Scholar 

  34. Murison MS, Gartell PC, McGinn FP (1993) Does selective peroperative cholangiography result in missed common bile duct stones? J R Coll Surg Edinb 38:220–224

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Caddy GR, Kirby J, Kirk SJ et al (2005) Natural history of asymptomatic bile duct stones at time of cholecystectomy. Ulster Med J 74:108–112

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Collins C, Maguire D, Ireland A et al (2004) A prospective study of common bile duct calculi in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: natural history of choledocholithiasis revisited. Ann Surg 239:28–33

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. O’Donovan AN, O’Sullivan G, Ireland A et al (1997) Prospective trial of the role of fine bore intubation of the cystic duct at the time of operative cholangiography. J Am Coll Surg 184:262–264

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Wilson TG, Jeans PL, Anthony A et al (1993) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and management of choledocholithiasis. Aust N Z J Surg 63:443–450

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Jolly PC, Baker JW, Schmidt HM et al (1968) Operative cholangiography: a case for its routine use. Ann Surg 168:551–565

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Pagana TJ, Stahlgren LH (1980) Indications and accuracy of operative cholangiography. Arch Surg 115:1214–1215

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Faris I, Thomson JP, Grundy DJ, Le Quesne LP (1975) Operative cholangiography: a reappraisal based on a review of 400 cholangiograms. Br J Surg 62:966–972

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Adams JD, Haisten AS (1972) Operative cholangiography-its value in the unsuspected choledochal stone. Surg Clin North Am 52:333–340

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Metcalfe MS, Ong T, Bruening MH et al (2004) Is laparoscopic intraoperative cholangiogram a matter of routine? Am J Surg 187:475–481

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. United States National Institutes Of Health (1992) Gallstones and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. NIH Consens Statement 10:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  45. Moynihan BG (1908) An address on inaugural symptoms. Br Med J 2:1597–1601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Mayo WJ (1911) “Innocent” gallstones a myth. JAMA 56:1021–1024

    Google Scholar 

  47. Comfort MW, Gray HK, Wilson JM (1948) The silent gallstone: a ten to twenty year follow-up study of 112 cases. Ann Surg 128:931–937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Gracie WA, Ransohoff DF (1982) The natural history of silent gallstones: the innocent gallstone is not a myth. N Engl J Med 307:798–800

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Friedman GD, Raviola CA, Fireman B (1989) Prognosis of gallstones with mild or no symptoms: 25 years of follow-up in a health maintenance organization. J Clin Epidemiol 42:127–136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Lund J (1960) Surgical indications in cholelithiasis: prophylactic cholecystectomy elucidated on the basis of long-term follow up on 526 nonoperated cases. Ann Surg 151:153–162

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Newman HF, Northup JD, Rosenblum M, Abrams H (1968) Complications of cholelithiasis. Am J Gastroenterol 50(6):476–496

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. McSherry CK, Ferstenberg H, Calhoun WF et al (1985) The natural history of diagnosed gallstone disease in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Ann Surg 202:59–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Ransohoff DF, Gracie WA (1993) Treatment of gallstones. Ann Intern Med 119:606–619

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Attili AF, De Santis A, Capri R et al (1995) The natural history of gallstones: the Grepco experience. The Grepco Group. Hepatology 21:655–660

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Gurusamy KS, Samraj K (2007) Cholecystectomy versus no cholecystectomy in patients with silent gallstones. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Cd006230

    Google Scholar 

  56. Zubler J, Markowski G, Yale S et al (1998) Natural history of asymptomatic gallstones in family practice office practices. Arch Fam Med 7:230–233

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Thistle JL, Cleary PA, Lachin JM et al (1984) The natural history of cholelithiasis: the National Cooperative Gallstone Study. Ann Intern Med 101:171–175

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Sakorafas GH, Milingos D, Peros G (2007) Asymptomatic cholelithiasis: is cholecystectomy really needed? a critical reappraisal 15 years after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Dig Dis Sci 52:1313–1325

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Italia

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Caddy, G. (2008). Natural History of Biliary Lithiasis. In: Biliary Lithiasis. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0763-5_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0763-5_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0762-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0763-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics