Biliary dyskinesia in the pediatric population

Sophia Mv Schermerhorn1, Afif N Kulaylat2, Donald J Lucas3

  • 1Resident, General Surgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.

PubMed

Insights

Biliary dyskinesia (BD) in children is common, but its causes and diagnosis are unclear. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) effectively resolves symptoms, but more research is needed for better pediatric treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Hepatobiliary Disorders
  • Surgical Outcomes

Background:

  • Biliary dyskinesia (BD) is a functional gallbladder disorder frequently diagnosed in pediatric patients.
  • It is a primary indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in children.
  • The underlying pathophysiology, including gallbladder dysmotility and inflammation, is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of pediatric biliary dyskinesia.
  • To highlight diagnostic challenges and treatment outcomes.
  • To identify areas for future research to improve pediatric patient care.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pediatric biliary dyskinesia.
  • Analysis of diagnostic methods, including HIDA scans.
  • Evaluation of treatment efficacy for both surgical and medical management.

Main Results:

  • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is an effective treatment for symptom resolution in pediatric BD.
  • Medical management, including proton pump inhibitors, shows variable success rates.
  • Diagnostic challenges persist due to a lack of validated pediatric criteria and inconsistent HIDA scan protocols.

Conclusions:

  • Prospective studies are crucial to refine diagnostic criteria for pediatric BD.
  • Identifying predictors of treatment success is needed.
  • Comparative studies of different treatment strategies will enhance outcomes for children with BD.

Related Concept Videos

Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics01:19

Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics

Depolarizing blockers are administered through intravenous injection. Succinylcholine is the most common choice of depolarizing blockers in emergency clinical practices. Although they have a rapid onset, they readily diffuse away from the motor end plate into the extracellular fluid. They are metabolized by enzymes such as liver butyrylcholinesterase and plasma pseudocholinesterases. This produces a short duration of action, typically 5-10 minutes long, unlike nondepolarizing blockers, which...
387
Endoscopic Procedures V: ERCP01:26

Endoscopic Procedures V: ERCP

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a diagnostic procedure that combines endoscopy and fluoroscopy to diagnose and treat conditions related to the bile ducts, pancreatic ducts, and gallbladder. This procedure is beneficial for identifying and addressing blockages, gallstones, strictures, and tumors within the biliary or pancreatic systems. ERCP is both diagnostic and therapeutic, offering the ability to visualize and treat identified problems in one session.
Patient...
962
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction01:17

Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction

Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
541
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists01:28

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists

Prokinetic agents are specialized medications that stimulate gastrointestinal (GI) motility, promoting food movement through the GI tract. Dopamine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a significant role in this process, reducing GI motility and indirectly controlling the speed of digestion. Dopamine receptor antagonists, such as metoclopramide and domperidone, offer a unique advantage as prokinetic agents. By blocking the dopamine receptors, these drugs increase GI motility, improving food...
629
Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders01:20

Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Gastrointestinal or GI motility disorders are characterized by irregular gastrointestinal tract movements, disrupting food transit from the mouth to the anus. They are caused by damage or dysfunction in gut muscles or nerves. These disorders can cause symptoms such as severe constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and swallowing difficulties. Disorders can affect any segment of the GI tract and range widely in severity, from common conditions like GERD to life-threatening conditions like...
609
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
246