A case of acute cholangitis and common bile duct stones in a pregnant woman in the 30th week of gestation

In performing surgery during pregnancy,we are demanded to select different operative procedures according to different pregnancy periods. We present a case of cholangitis and common bile duct stones in a pregnant woman performed emergency open surgery. The patient was a 33-year-old white woman in the 30th week of gestation. She had many gallstones and had repeatedly presented with abdominal pain and fever in the 24th and 29th week of gestation. In each episode,she was treated by conservative treatment. This time when she was in the 30th week of gestation,emergency MRCP showed a common bile duct stone and dilatation of the common bile duct. Serum bilirubin levels and white blood cell levels were high. We performed cholecystectomy and tube drainage with a diagnosis of cholangitis and common bile duct stone. She was discharged from the hospital 6 days after the operation. Then,the patient was induced to deliver at the 40th week of gestation with resultant transvaginal delivery. Since different therapeutic methods were employed depending on different gestation periods and conditions of the mother and her fetus,the case is reported together with some bibliographical comments.