What are the Most Common Symptoms of Choledocholithiasis?

Bile Duct Blockage Symptoms: A Clear Guide to Choledocholithiasis

Choledocholithiasis is the medical condition of having stones or (gallstone) in an individual’s common bile duct. Bile duct is nothing but a small tube that involves transferring bile from the gallbladder to the intestine. The stone can be formed due to cholesterol salts and bile pigments or calcium. According to the recent medical research, it is observed that the common bile duct can be present anywhere from 1-15% of patients with cholelithiasis. Choledocholithiasis occurs due to the passage of gallstones which are formed in the gallbladder into the common bile duct or the formation of stones in the common bile duct.

Common Symptoms of Choledocholithiasis

The most common symptoms of Choledocholithiasis or gall stones include jaundice, dark urine, pale stools and having pain in the upper right abdomen. In some cases, patients suffer from fever, vomiting and nausea. Detailed insights of these symptoms are in the following:

• Jaundice (Yellow discolouration of skin): Caused by the increasing concentration of bilirubin due to the obstructed bile flow and leaks into your bloodstream that results in the yellowing of the skin and whites of your eyes. In addition, Jaundice can appear and disappear just as biliary colic (a type of abdominal pain caused by temporary obstruction of the bile duct generally by gallstone). However, it will keep coming back until and unless the obstruction is cleared.
• Dark Urine & Pale Stools: Drastic changes in the colour of urine and stool can indicate blocked bile duct flow.
• Fever & Chill: Severe inflammation in the patient’s biliary system can cause fever and chill. Because your bile duct is blocked so bacteria are not flushed out as it happens in normal condition. These symptoms indicate cases of infection such as cholangitis which leads to serious complications of choledocholithiasis.
• Abdominal Pain: Patients can suffer from the biliary pain(right scapular/epigastric)that lasts from 30 mins–6 hours generally after having a meal. It increases for the first 20 minutes and after that gradually declines. Pain often located in the upper right abdomen however it may turn into back pain across your shoulder blade or right side.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Biliary colic is often led by nausea and vomiting. Vomiting does not give relief from pain to the patients as it occurs in other types like in migraine. Moreover, in case your biliary colic is not as extreme, the patient may only feel a usual lack of appetite.
• Loss of Appetite: This symptom can be also seen in cases of choledocholithiasis.
• Pruritus (itchy skin): It can be one of the symptoms of the Choledocholithiasis which can lead to decrease in bile flow (Cholestasis). It happens in case of blocked bile flow as it leads to accumulated bile salts in the bloodstream and causes irritation in the nerve endings, ultimately resulting in itching.  

What Causes Choledocholithiasis?

There are two kinds of gallstones which include cholesterol gallstones as well as pigment gallstones. Cholesterol gallstones usually appear yellow in colour and are the most common type of gallstones. Healthcare professionals believe that cholesterol stones are caused by bile that has high concentration of cholesterol, bilirubin. Although, it is not clear what leads to gallstones formation but healthcare professionals believe that gallstones may results when:

• Your bile contains high cholesterol
• Your bile contains high concentration of bilirubin
• Your gallbladder doesn’t empty adequately

How is Choledocholithiasis Diagnosed?

This medical condition is significant as it can result in serious complications, including severe infections, liver damage and pancreatitis in case of inadequate diagnosis and prompt treatment. Analysing its treatment option is crucial for completely getting rid from this disease. If you seek healthcare service for the above mentioned symptoms your healthcare professional would prefer investigation through blood tests as well as imaging tests. Your blood tests will show the concentration of bile and blockage can be found by imaging tests. Moreover, Blood Test may include Bilirubin test, liver and pancreas function tests and Complete Blood Count (CBC). Whereas, ‘Abdominal Ultrasound’, ‘Endoscopic ultrasound’, ‘Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)’ and ‘endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)’-these all tests can be conducted under imaging test for the proper diagnosis of the Choledocholithiasis.