Sonographic assessment of ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis in children

PURPOSE: Ceftriaxone is a widely used third-generation cephalosporin. In this prospective study, we used sonography to investigate the incidence and outcome of biliary complications in children receiving ceftriaxone therapy. METHODS: Ceftriaxone was administered intravenously at a dosage of 100 mg/kg/day for 1-3 weeks to 118 children hospitalized for severe infection. Serial gallbladder sonograms were obtained on days 1, 5-7, and 10-14 of therapy and the day after therapy ended if it had lasted more than 2 weeks. When sonographic abnormalities were found, additional sonograms were obtained every 3 days until the abnormalities had completely resolved. RESULTS: Twenty patients (17%), all asymptomatic, demonstrated sonographic abnormalities: 8 had gallbladder sludge, defined as echogenic material without associated acoustic shadowing, and 12 had pseudolithiasis, defined as echogenic material with acoustic shadowing. These abnormalities spontaneously resolved within 2 weeks of stopping the ceftriaxone (mean time to disappearance, 8.2 +/- 3.4 days). No significant differences were found between patients with normal versus abnormal sonographic findings in sex, age, duration of treatment, or other risk factors for drug precipitation. CONCLUSIONS: Ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis is usually asymptomatic and was rapidly reversible after cessation of therapy in this group of Turkish children.     

Ceftriaxone‐associated biliary pseudolithiasis in children: do we know enough?

Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic agent frequently used in paediatric hospital practice for the treatment of severe bacterial infections. The use of this agent can result in cholelithiasis and/or biliary sludge, more commonly in children than in adults. This systematic review was aimed at analysing available literature concerning ceftriaxone‐associated biliary pseudolithiasis in paediatric patients, with a special emphasis on the clinical aspects. A literature analysis was performed using Medline and Embase electronic databases (articles published in English up to December 2019), with the search terms and combinations as follows:’ceftriaxone’, ‘cholelithiasis’, ‘biliary sludge’ ‘gallstones’ ‘neonates’ ‘children’ ‘clinical aspects’ ‘management’. Several case reports, case series and prospective/retrospective studies have documented a relationship between ceftriaxone treatment and biliary pseudolithiasis in the paediatric population, even though literature data regarding neonates and infants are scarce. Ceftriaxone‐associated biliary pseudolithiasis is dose‐dependent and usually asymptomatic but, sometimes, it may present with abdominal pain, nausea and emesis. Abdominal ultrasonography should be performed when this complication is suspected. Generally, ceftriaxone‐associated cholelithiasis resolves over a variable period of time (days to months) after cessation of therapy. Therefore, a conservative approach to this condition is advocated, but a prolonged follow‐up may be necessary. A personalized assessment of factors predisposing to ceftriaxone‐associated biliary pseudolithiasis before prescribing the drug can allow to minimize the risk of developing it, with significant advantages in terms of human and economic costs.     

Sonographic assessment of ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis in Chinese children

In this randomized, single-blind, case-controlled, prospective study, the incidence and outcome of ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis in Chinese children was evaluated via ultrasonography. A total of 108 children diagnosed with hepatobiliary infection or pneumonia were randomized to receive ceftriaxone or ceftazidime. Serial gallbladder sonograms were obtained on days 1, 5 - 7 and 10 - 14 of therapy. Gallstones were detected in 43.10% of patients in the ceftriaxone-treated group and in 2.00% of the ceftazidime-treated group. The incidence of pseudolithiasis was significantly higher in the ceftriaxone-treated than the ceftazidime-treated group. Biliary precipitation abnormalities appeared after 2 - 7 days of treatment. After gallstones were found, the drug was stopped and symptoms resolved within 1 - 2 days. This study suggests that the risk of ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis should be considered when treating Chinese children.     

胆道蛔虫的超声诊断价值

目的探讨超声对胆道蛔虫的诊断价值。方法分析54例胆道蛔虫病患者的胆道声像图特点。结果胆道蛔虫成活或虫体完整20例,术前超声检出17例,声像图示肝外胆管呈不同程度扩张,其内有一条或多条2～5mm宽的双线状强回声;超声漏诊2例胆总管内蛔虫,1例胆囊内蛔虫因合并多发结石。胆道蛔虫残骸者34例,超声检出27例,声像图示蛔虫体逐渐变得模糊,层次消失,仅可见节段性的等号状强回声;漏诊2例因合并胆管癌,5例因合并胆总管结石或胆囊结石,蛔虫残骸与癌肿、结石回声重叠。结论超声检查对胆道蛔虫有较高的诊断价值。     

Utility of multiple endoscopic techniques in differential diagnosis of gallbladder adenomyomatosis from gallbladder malignancy with bile duct invasion: A case report

BACKGROUND Gallbladder adenomyomatosis(GAM) is a benign lesion, characterized by thickening of the gallbladder wall and a focal mass, which overlap with the features of gallbladder malignancy. Consequently, differential diagnosis of GAM from gallbladder cancer is difficult and approximately 20% of suspected malignant biliary strictures are postoperatively confirmed as benign lesions.Herein, we report a case in which a preoperative diagnosis of GAM was made by a combination of endoscopic and imaging techniques.CASE SUMMARY A 40-year-old man was referred to our hospital chiefly for a fever and right upper abdominal pain with dark urine. Enhanced computed tomography showed thickening of the gallbladder wall and a mass in the gallbladder neck with involvement of the hepatic bile ducts, which was suspected to be malignant.Gallbladder malignancy with bile duct invasion was ruled out by subsequent endoscopic examinations, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, intraductal ultrasound, and Spy Glass. Endoscopic examinations showed a homogeneous hyperechoic lesion with smooth margins of benign bile duct stricture suggestive of inflammatory stenosis of the bile duct.The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. GAM was postoperatively diagnosed and confirmed based on the histopathology results, which are consistent with the preoperative diagnosis. Notably, no malignant event occurred in the patient during a 12-mo follow-up period.CONCLUSION A combination of endoscopic techniques may help in the differential diagnosis of GAM from gallbladder cancer.     

Pseudolithiasis due to ceftriaxone treatment for meningitis in children: report of 8 cases

Cholelithiasis rarely occurs in childhood. Ceftriaxone is a widely used antimicrobial agent in pediatrics due to the broad spectrum. Reversible biliary sludge and/or lithiasis, named as pseudolithiasis, have been reported in patients treated with ceftriaxone. We observed ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis in 8 patients with meningitis. The aim of this study was to report the clinical characteristics of these patients and to evaluate the related factors for the development of ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis in children. The study group consisted of 7 boys and 1 girl. All patients received ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/day for meningitis. The ultrasonographic evaluation was performed on 5th-10th days after the initiation of the therapy. Biliary sludge was detected in one patient, and gallstone was detected in three patients, while biliary sludge with gallstone was detected in four patients. Six of the cases were diagnosed during summer time. Thus, high temperature may cause loss of fluid, leading to easier formation of sludge. Ceftriaxone treatment was discontinued after sonographic demonstration of pseudolithiasis. Gallbladder sonograms were found to be normal in all patients at the follow-up sonographic examinations performed after 30 days of the diagnosis without specific treatment. Clinicians should screen all pediatric patients living in areas with high temperature and receiving ceftriaxone treatment (over 100 mg/kg) by ultrasonography for biliary sludge or gallstone formation even if they are asymptomatic.     

成人使用头孢曲松钠导致胆泥形成及假性胆石症的超声追踪观察

【目的】探讨成人患者使用头孢曲松钠导致胆泥形成及假性胆石症的超声特征及停药后的超声改变。【方法】选取26例使用头孢曲松钠导致胆泥形成及假性胆石症的患者,回顾性分析其超声特征,追踪观察停药后的超声改变。【结果126例胆泥形成及假性胆石症超声表现分为：胆泥形成型、胆囊单发强回声团型、胆囊多发强回声团型及胆总管强回声团型。四型之间患者年龄,胆囊壁厚度、强回声团直径及胆泥形成及假性胆石症发现时间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,胆泥形成型较单发、多发及胆总管强回声团型异常回声消失较早（P〈0．05）。胆泥形成型声影发现率低于多发强回声团型（P〈O．05）,其余组声影发现率之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。【结论】超声追踪观察可有效评价成人使用头孢曲松钠导致胆泥形成及假性胆石症。     

Rare variant of pancreaticobiliary maljunction associated with pancreas divisum in a child diagnosed and treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreaticobiliary maljunction(PBM) is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the pancreatic and biliary ductal system, defined as a union of the pancreatic and biliary ducts located outside the duodenal wall. According to the Komi classification of PBM, the common bile duct(CBD) directly fuses with the ventral pancreatic duct in all types. Pancreas divisum(PD) occurs when the ventral and dorsal ducts of the embryonic pancreas fail to fuse during the second month of fetal development. The coexistence of PBM and PD is an infrequent condition.Here, we report an unusual variant of PBM associated with PD in a pediatric patient, in whom an anomalous communication existed between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.CASE SUMMARY A boy aged 4 years and 2 mo was hospitalized for abdominal pain with nausea and jaundice for 5 d. Abdominal ultrasound showed cholecystitis with cholestasis in the gallbladder, dilated middle-upper CBD, and a strong echo in the lower CBD, indicating biliary stones. The diagnosis was extrahepatic biliary obstruction caused by biliary stones, which is an indication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP). ERCP was performed to remove biliary stones. During the ERCP, we found a rare communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct. After clearing the CBD with a balloon, an 8.5 Fr 4-cm pigtail plastic pancreatic stent was placed in the biliary duct through the major papilla. Six months later, his biliary stent was removed after he had no symptoms and normal laboratory tests. In the following 4-year period, the child grew up normally with no more attacks of abdominal pain.CONCLUSION We consider that ERCP is effective and safe in pediatric patients with PBM combined with PD, and can be the initial therapy to manage such cases,especially when it is combined with aberrant communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.     

Ceftriaxone-associated biliary pseudolithiasis in children

PURPOSE: Ceftriaxone is known to induce reversible precipitations, known as pseudolithiasis, in the gallbladder and urinary tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and predisposing factors that contribute to this side effect. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 156 children admitted for the treatment of various infections with different daily ceftriaxone doses (50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg). Sonographic examinations of the gallbladder and urinary tract were performed before treatment on the third and seventh day of therapy, and at the first and second month after the end of treatment. Patients with positive findings were followed with weekly sonographic examinations until the abnormality resolved. RESULTS: Abnormal gallbladder sonograms were demonstrated in 27 children (17%); 16 of them (10%) had gallbladder lithiasis, 11 had gallbladder sludge (7%) (n = 4 on the third day, n = 23 on the seventh day), and 1 developed urolithiasis (0.6%). Five children (19%) were symptomatic. The abnormalities resolved after a mean of 16 days (range 10-30 days). Patients with pseudolithiasis were older and treated with higher drug doses than those with normal sonographic findings (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Biliary pseudolithiasis (and infrequently nephrolithiasis) usually occurs in children receiving high doses of ceftriaxone. It is generally asymptomatic. When this reversible complication becomes symptomatic, unnecessary cholecystectomy should be avoided.     

Spectrum of biliary disease in childhood

Obstructive biliary disease in childhood is not common, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child with jaundice, abdominal pain, or an abdominal mass. We have reviewed the experience at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital from 1970 to 1985, during which 87 children 18 years of age or younger with biliary tract disease were seen. Twelve patients (14%) had congenital disorders including choledochal stenosis, Caroli's disease, choledochal cyst, teratoma of the common hepatic duct and common bile duct, congenital septate biliary tree, and isolated atresia of the distal common bile duct. Thirty patients had neonatal cholestatic syndromes, and 37 had calculous disease of the gallbladder or extrahepatic bile ducts. Three patients had obstruction of the common bile duct caused by fibrosing pancreatitis. Two had sclerosing cholangitis. Obstruction of the common bile duct was caused by metastatic neoplasm in three patients. We discuss principles of diagnosis and management.     

Epstein–Barr virus-associated acute cholecystitis in a teenager

A 14-year-old girl was admitted to hospital with fever, headache, sore throat and abdominal pain. Her blood lymphocyte count and inflammatory markers were raised. Acute Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection was suspected and confirmed serologically and by measuring the viral load. On day 7, she developed jaundice with abnormal liver function tests. An abdominal ultrasound scan revealed thickening of the gallbladder and bile duct walls without calculi suggesting acute acalculous cholecystitis. The patient improved slowly with symptomatic treatment, and a repeat ultrasound scan six months later was normal. Acalculous cholecystitis is a rare complication of EBV infection and usually has a good prognosis.     

Impact of gallbladder status on the outcome in patients with retained bile duct stones treated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The use of endoscopic therapy in combination with lithotripsy techniques has become increasingly common in patients with complicated common bile duct stones. In many units, although this is controversial, cholecystectomy is then performed, because of possible subsequent cholecystitis and recurrence of choledocholithiasis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gallbladder status influences the long-term outcome in patients after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) of common bile duct stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Recruited for the study were 120 patients with an average age of 68 years (range 28 - 86). They were selected from 137 consecutive patients who presented to our department between January 1989 and June 1996 with complicated common bile duct stones, and in whom ESWL was necessary to achieve complete clearance of stones. Follow-up data were obtained from the patients and their general practitioners. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 4 years (range 3 - 9). A total of 37 patients had their gallbladder in situ (group A), while 83 had undergone cholecystectomy. Of these 83 patients, 27 had had a cholecystectomy after ESWL (group B), whereas 56 patients had already had the gallbladder removed when choledocholithiasis was diagnosed (group C). During follow-up, 36 patients (30 %) experienced some biliary symptoms. There were no significant differences in the incidence of recurrent biliary symptoms between the three groups. Re-exploration of the bile duct by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed 28 cases of recurrent bile duct stones. Recurrence developed more often in groups B and C, who had undergone cholecystectomy, without reaching statistical significance ( P = 0.077). In patients with an intact gallbladder (group A), there was no difference in the rate of recurrent biliary symptoms or stones between the patients with or without cholecystolithiasis. Operations were necessary in 28 patients; in only ten was this for biliary reasons. CONCLUSION: The intact gallbladder is not a risk factor for recurrent biliary complications after ESWL of common bile duct stones; therefore, as far as patients with complicated bile duct stones which require additional lithotripsy techniques are concerned, elective cholecystectomy after endoscopic clearance of the bile duct no longer seems appropriate.     

腹腔镜胆总管切开取石术后胆道引流方法的改进

胆总管切开取石术后能否一期缝合的争论由来已久[1],一般认为胆总管一期缝合前须放置适当的胆道引流。我们在临床工作中探索制作了一胆道内置引流管,在腹腔镜胆总管切开取石术后用胆道内置管引流,胆总管一期缝合,效果较满意[2],现将我们的经验介绍如下。1资料与方法1.1临床资料     

Apparent biliary pseudolithiasis during ceftriaxone therapy.

Biliary pseudolithiasis has been reported in patients who received ceftriaxone therapy. To examine this phenomenon further, serial gallbladder sonograms were evaluated in 44 adult patients who received intravenous ceftriaxone at 2 g or a placebo daily for 14 days in a double-blind controlled study. Ultrasound examinations of gallbladders were performed on days 1 and 14 of therapy and 2 weeks posttherapy if abnormalities were observed on day 14. Eight patients were unevaluable because of abnormal base-line gallbladder sonograms. Thirty-six patients (ceftriaxone, n = 28; placebo, n = 8) demonstrated normal baseline gallbladder sonograms and were evaluated for the development of change. A total of 6 of 28 (21.4%) ceftriaxone-treated patients and 1 of 8 (12.5%) patients who received the placebo demonstrated abnormal gallbladder sonograms on day 14 (P = 0.491). Four of the six ceftriaxone-treated patients demonstrating abnormal sonograms were clinically asymptomatic, while two patients reported vomiting. The abnormal sonograms of gallbladders of patients treated with ceftriaxone returned to normal between 9 and 26 days posttherapy. These data suggest an association between ceftriaxone treatment and the development of gallbladder abnormalities on ultrasound examination which resolve spontaneously on discontinuation of ceftriaxone therapy.     

Assessment of gallbladder function using ceruletide in oral cholecystography

A dose of 0.3 g/kg body weight of ceruletide was assessed for its effect on gallbladder contraction and bile duct delineation following oral cholecystography. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain sometimes occurred after ceruletide. No relationship was found after ceruletide administration between the radiologic appearances of the biliary tract and reproduction of the patients' biliary-type symptoms. Ceruletide cholecystography is regarded as an inaccurate investigation of biliary tract function.     

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis from percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in a patient with gallbladder cancer after surgery: A case report

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis (SSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by fibrosis and stricture of the bile ducts. SSC in association with multiple factors such as spontaneous choledochoduodenal fistula and metastatic gallbladder cancer has rarely been reported. However, to the best of our knowledge, reports of SSC after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), especially in cases with diffuse calcification of the bile duct walls, have not been reported. We report a case of SSC from PTBD in a patient with gallbladder cancer after surgery. The patient underwent external percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant bile duct obstruction after cholecystectomy. Repeated exchanges were performed at the first and the sixth month after PTBD using an internal and external drainage catheter. Two months after the third catheter exchange, findings of laboratory and imaging examinations were suggestive of SSC. The liver function tests of the patient were suggestive of cholestasis. Multidetector computed tomography showed diffuse calcification of the bile duct walls. Cholangiography showed intrahepatic biliary stenosis or dilatation.     

Biliary levels of ceforanide.

Ceforanide levels in plasma, gallbladder bile, gallbladder tissue, and common bile duct were studied in 10 patients with normal biliary tracts and in 35 patients with biliary disease at various intervals after intravenous injection of 1 g of the drug. Peak blood levels were obtained within 1 h of administration (mean, 67 +/- 15 micrograms/ml). Patients with a normal bilary tract, as well as patients with chronic cholecystitis and a patent cystic duct, achieved high gallbladder bile levels of ceforanide within 2 h (mean, 76 +/- 25 micrograms/ml) and attained even higher levels by 4 h (mean, 182 +/- 51 micrograms/ml). However, all patients with chronic cholecystitis and an occluded cystic duct had very low drug concentrations in the gallbladder bile (14 +/- 7 micrograms/ml at 2 h). Despite this difference in gallbladder bile levels, ceforanide levels of 21 +/- 3 micrograms/g were achieved at 1 to 3 h in gallbladder tissue in both groups with chronic cholecystitis. The concentration of ceforanide in common bile duct was 149 +/- 59 micrograms/ml at 2 h after administration, with levels over 60 micrograms/ml present from 1 to 4 h after administration. These results indicate that ceforanide reaches high levels in the biliary tract. Its potential value in the prevention and treatment of biliary infections should be assessed.     

Endoscopic diagnosis and extraction of biliary ascaris

A woman was admitted to hospital after several episodes of severe upper right abdominal pain and vomiting. Previously she had had cholecystectomy for gallbladder stones, and later endoscopic papillotomy to treat common duct stone. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography diagnosed an Ascaris worm in the common bile duct. One end of the 20 cm long living worm was caught in a Dormia basket when it protruded through the papillotomy opening, and the worm extracted with the endoscope.     

ERCP后CT诊断梗阻性黄疸病因(附25例分析)

目的 评价ERCP后CT对梗阻性黄疸的诊断价值。方法 25例胆道梗阻性疾病的ERCP后行上腹部螺旋CT容积扫描，在工作站利用软件将图象处理后得到胆道系统MPR和仿真内窥镜图像。结果 25例中，胆管癌2例，砂癌2例，胆总管结石16例，胆总管炎3例，胰头囊性肿瘤1例，胆囊癌侵犯胆总管1例，均经手术或病理证实。结论 ERCP后CT扫描是诊断梗阻性黄疸的一种可靠手段。     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the common bile duct in biliary acute pancreatitis patients: comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

We compared the morphologic findings of the common bile duct by ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with biliary acute pancreatitis. Forty-five patients were studied. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was based on the presence of characteristic abdominal pain associated with an elevation of serum amylase and lipase concentrations. All patients underwent ultrasonography and subsequently urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and eventually endoscopic sphincterotomy. Ultrasonography showed gallstones in 33 patients and sludge of the gallbladder in seven patients. In the common bile duct, lithiasis was found in two patients and sludge in 25. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed choledocolithiasis in eight patients and sludge of the common bile duct in 32. In 27 cases (60%) concordance occurred between ultrasonographic and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic detection of lithiasis or sludge of the common bile duct. The average diameter of the common bile duct determined by sonography was significantly smaller (P < 0.001) than that obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The evaluation of this parameter indicated that a good correlation existed between the values obtained with the two techniques (r(s) = 0.765, P < 0.001). Both ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography can provide reliable measurements of the common bile duct diameter. Ultrasonography is the technique of choice in the initial investigation of patients with biliary acute pancreatitis.