Is opioid addiction a sufficient predicting factor for common bile duct dilatation? A sonographic study

In the absence of hepatobiliary symptoms, opioid consumption has been shown to cause dilatation of the common bile duct (CBD). The main objective of this study was to measure with sonography CBD diameters in opioid addicts as compared with nonaddicts. The research was done on 208 individuals; 104 were opioid addicts using various routes of administration (inhalation, oral, or intravenous), and 104 had no history of addiction (control group). All patients underwent abdominopelvic sonography, and the internal diameters of the proximal part of the CBD were recorded. The average CBD diameter in the control group was 4.13 ± 1.14 mm, which significantly increased to 8.16 ± 2.54 mm in the case group. A significant increase in the average diameter of CBD in the case group with the oral route was 10.7 ± 2.26 mm, compared with 7.5 ± 1.64 mm and 7.6 ± 3.05 mm, respectively, for those using inhalation and intravenous routes. The diameter of CBD was age dependent. The dilatation of the CBD detected by sonography occurring in opioid addicts in all age groups was attributed principally to the effect of opioids. Oral administration of opioid caused the highest dilatation effect on CBD.