Endoscopic ultrasound in diagnosis of choledocholithiasis

Kamenci u glavnom žučnom vodu, odnosno koledokolitijaza, česta je bolest probavnog sustava. Iako je uglavnom simptomatska, nerijetko nalazimo bolesnike bez ikakvih simptoma, a samim time raste vjerojatnost za razvoj komplikacija i dugoročnih posljedica. U posljednje vrijeme u dijagnostici prednjači pretraga endoskopski ultrazvuk (EUZ) koja je u širokoj kliničkoj primjeni posljednjih 30 godina. U ovom radu navedene su najvažnije činjenice o anatomiji i fiziologiji bilijarnog sustava, a potom su iscrpno obrađene epidemiologija, etiopatogeneza, klinička slika, dijagnostika i terapija koledokolitijaze. U završnom dijelu obrađena je sama pretraga endoskopski ultrazvuk: princip rada, tehnički aspekt i izvedba, indikacije i kontraindikacije za pretragu, njene komplikacije te na kraju usporedba točnosti EUZ-a i ostalih dijagnostičkih pretraga u dijagnostici koledokolitijaze.Gallstones in the common bile duct, or choledocholithiasis, are one of the most common illnesses of the digestive system. Although this condition is symptomatic in most of the cases, patients often present without any symptoms, so there is a greater chance of developing complications and long-term consequences. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), in wide clinical use for the last 30 years, has been the leading procedure in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. In this graduate thesis the most important facts about biliary system anatomy and physiology are mentioned, followed by the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapy of choledocholithiasis analyzed in detail. In the final part of this elaboration the diagnostic procedure of endoscopic ultrasound is analyzed: its working mechanism, technical aspect and performance, indications and contraindications, its complications, and, in the end, a comparison of accuracy beetwen EUS and other diagnostic methods in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis