weekly_question 8/6/2025

[Admin]

A 13-year old girl presents with mild epigastric pain. Laboratory studies include an AST 135 IU/L, ALT 173 IU/L, total bilirubin 1.9 mg/dL, direct bilirubin 1.4 mg/dL, amylase of 400 u/L, lipase of 500 u/L. Right upper quadrant ultrasound shows small stones in the gallbladder with a 7-mm diameter common bile duct, but no stone was noted in the common duct. The following day, direct bilirubin is 0.7 mg/dL, amylase is 100 u/L, and lipase is 75u/L. The best next step in this child’s management is

a MRCP

b IV antibiotics

c Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with IOC when amylase and lipase normalize

d ERCP

e Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC)

[Admin]

Correct answer
e Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC)

This patient has mild gallstone pancreatitis. The next step should be determined by the likelihood of having common bile duct stones based on clinical risk factors. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons published guidelines on the management of choledocholithiasis and it lists four risk factors for choledocholithiasis: common bile duct stone on abdominal ultrasound, dilated common bile duct (>8 mm), clinical evidence of acute cholangitis, total bilirubin >1.7 mg/dl. The presence of 2 or more factors indicate a high probability, no factors to be low probability, and one factor to be intermediate probability for choledocholithiasis.

Both SAGES and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopists (ASGE) have advocated limiting the use of ERCP to those with high risk for choledocholithiasis and those with signs of cholangitis.

In patients with intermediate probability, such as this patient, SAGES has two options for management: laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) OR preoperative MRCP or endoscopic ultrasound. Recent reports in the pediatric surgical literature have favored laparoscopic IOC with common bile duct exploration (CBDE) over preoperative ERCP in intermediate risk patients. Recognizing that formal CBDE skills may be “rusty” in pediatric surgeons, Bosley et al published a recent report using “balloon sphincteroplasty” where dilating balloons are introduced through the cystic duct approach to stretch the sphincter of Oddi with subsequent ductal flushing is a relatively simple option of clearing the duct.

Single stage (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, intraoperative cholangiogram, CBDE) management of common duct stones is less expensive than two stages and exposes the patient to fewer anesthesia episodes.

Notably, ASGE recommends against urgent ERCP in patients with gallstone pancreatitis with no evidence of cholangitis or biliary obstruction.

[Dr.Halah Yasin]

C

[Haider Ali]

C

[Abd El wahed]

C

[Mudasir]

C

[Admin]

Correct answer
e Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC)

This patient has mild gallstone pancreatitis. The next step should be determined by the likelihood of having common bile duct stones based on clinical risk factors. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons published guidelines on the management of choledocholithiasis and it lists four risk factors for choledocholithiasis: common bile duct stone on abdominal ultrasound, dilated common bile duct (>8 mm), clinical evidence of acute cholangitis, total bilirubin >1.7 mg/dl. The presence of 2 or more factors indicate a high probability, no factors to be low probability, and one factor to be intermediate probability for choledocholithiasis.

Both SAGES and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopists (ASGE) have advocated limiting the use of ERCP to those with high risk for choledocholithiasis and those with signs of cholangitis.

In patients with intermediate probability, such as this patient, SAGES has two options for management: laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) OR preoperative MRCP or endoscopic ultrasound. Recent reports in the pediatric surgical literature have favored laparoscopic IOC with common bile duct exploration (CBDE) over preoperative ERCP in intermediate risk patients. Recognizing that formal CBDE skills may be “rusty” in pediatric surgeons, Bosley et al published a recent report using “balloon sphincteroplasty” where dilating balloons are introduced through the cystic duct approach to stretch the sphincter of Oddi with subsequent ductal flushing is a relatively simple option of clearing the duct.

Single stage (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, intraoperative cholangiogram, CBDE) management of common duct stones is less expensive than two stages and exposes the patient to fewer anesthesia episodes.

Notably, ASGE recommends against urgent ERCP in patients with gallstone pancreatitis with no evidence of cholangitis or biliary obstruction.