What is the normal value of the common bile duct diameter after gallstone surgery

As people age, their physical fitness gradually declines and many diseases emerge. Gallstones are one such disease. Although gallstones can be treated through minimally invasive surgery nowadays, in order to ensure that patients can recover their health as soon as possible after surgery, it is necessary to closely monitor the inner diameter of the patient's common bile duct to see if it is within normal values. So, what is the normal value of the common bile duct diameter after gallstone surgery?

Normal value of common bile duct diameter:

1. Infants: 2~4mm 2. Children: 4~6mm 3. Adults: 6~8mm 4. Elderly: 9~12mm and above. This is for your reference only, as the normal values ​​vary depending on the region, country, and race.

The common bile duct is about 70 to 80 mm long and 4 to 6 mm in diameter. It is generally believed that a common bile duct diameter of 7 to 10 mm is mildly dilated, and greater than 10 mm is significantly dilated. The left and right hepatic ducts in the liver are dilated when their inner diameters are greater than 2 mm, or are greater than 1/3 of the accompanying portal vein. Most patients recover well after cholecystectomy, with occasional upper abdominal discomfort. Ultrasound examination upon admission shows that most common bile duct diameters are within the normal range, but some common bile ducts show dilatation. The causes of common bile duct dilatation are varied, and may be caused by physiological compensatory dilatation, iatrogenic bile duct injury, residual stones, biliary infection, etc. Combined with the data analysis of this group, the main causes of common bile duct dilatation after cholecystectomy are:

(1) The main factors causing postoperative common bile duct dilatation. According to relevant literature reports, after cholecystectomy, the gallbladder loses its buffering effect on the fluid pressure in the bile duct, resulting in increased pressure in the common bile duct, thereby causing compensatory dilatation of the common bile duct. On the other hand, due to the absence of the gallbladder, the biliary system loses its original main bile storage organ, and bile retention causes chronic inflammation. As we age, decreased elasticity of the bile wall may also manifest as dilatation of the common bile duct.

(2) Residual or recurrent common bile duct stones: account for approximately 14% of common bile duct dilatation.

(3) Common bile duct inflammatory deposits: account for about 3% of common bile duct dilatation.

(4) Others: Such as bile duct polyps. This disease is extremely rare. It may be due to repeated stimulation of the gallbladder wall by inflammatory substances after cholecystectomy, causing reactive hyperplasia of the gallbladder wall and polyp-like changes.

Patients are reminded again that after undergoing gallstone surgery, they must pay close attention to the normal value of the inner diameter of the common bile duct so that they can observe in detail whether their body has fully recovered. Although minimally invasive surgery is currently a popular treatment method, it is not suitable for patients with larger stones. The best method is still gallbladder removal.