Acute Biliary Disease

Abstract

Acute biliary disease is a ubiquitous acute surgical complaint. General surgeons managing emergency surgical patients must be knowledgeable and capable of identifying and caring for common presentations. This article discusses the work-up, diagnosis, and management of the varying pathologies that make up biliary disease including cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, gallstone pancreatitis, and gallstone ileus. Also addressed are more challenging and rare presentations including pregnancy and bariatric anatomy.

Keywords: Acute care surgery; Biliary; Cholecystectomy; Cholecystitis; Choledocholithiasis; Cholelithiasis; Emergency surgery; Gallstone pancreatitis.