Duodenal Biliary Drainage (cont.)
Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- What is duodenal biliary drainage?
- How is duodenal biliary drainage done?
- Why might duodenal biliary drainage be done?
- What are the risks of duodenal biliary drainage?
- When is duodenal biliary drainage useful?
Why might duodenal biliary drainage be done?
Gallstones begin as microscopic particles of cholesterol or pigment that grow in size. Once the particles grow large enough to become gallstones, they can obstruct the bile ducts and cause problems. It is clear that some people who develop the symptoms and complications of gallstones -- biliary colic, cholecystitis, or pancreatitis -- have only these microscopic particles in their gallbladders, particles too small to obstruct the bile ducts.
There are two possible explanations for how obstruction might be occurring in this situation. The first is that a small gallstone obstructed the bile ducts but finally passed through the bile ducts into the intestine. The second is that the particles passing through the bile ducts "irritate" the ducts, causing spasm of the muscle within the walls of the ducts (which obstructs the duct) or causing inflammation of the duct so that the wall of the duct swells (which also obstructs the duct).
What are the risks of duodenal biliary drainage?
The risks to the patient of duodenal biliary drainage are almost nonexistent. There have been no reports of reactions to the synthetic hormone. Nevertheless, the presence of the tube in the throat is uncomfortable for the 30-60 minutes that are necessary to complete the test.
When is duodenal biliary drainage useful?
Duodenal biliary drainage is useful in diagnosing problems related to gallstones when other tests such as ultrasonography have not demonstrated gallstones but suspicion is high that gallstones are the cause of the patient's problem. Cholesterol or pigment particles without gallstones may be present in individuals who have no medical problems or problems that are not due to gallstones. It is unclear whether these individuals ultimately are more likely to develop gallstones. Because such individuals exist, it also is important not to assume that particles mean that gallstones are the cause of a medical problem. The medical problem and its symptoms should be typical of the types of problems caused by gallstones.
Previous contributing editors: Barbara K. Hecht, Ph.D. and Frederick Hecht, M.D.
Last Editorial Review: 2/26/2009
http://www.medicinenet.com/duodenal_biliary_drainage/article.htm
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