OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE

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What is obstructive jaundice?
Obstructive jaundice is a condition in which there is blockage of the flow of bile
out of the liver. This results in redirection of excess bile and its by-products into
the blood, and bile excretion from the body is incomplete. Bile contains many
by-products, one of which is bilirubin, a pigment derived from dead red blood
cells. Bilirubin is yellow, and this gives the characteristic yellow appearance of
jaundice in the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Symptoms of obstructive
jaundice include yellow eyes and skin, abdominal pain, and fever.

Any type of obstruction that blocks the flow of bile from the liver can cause
obstructive jaundice. Most commonly, gallstones create the blockage. Other
causes of obstruction include inflammation, tumors, trauma, pancreatic cancer,
narrowing of the bile ducts, and structural abnormalities present at birth.
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The signs and symptoms of obstructive jaundice differ depending on the

completeness of the blockage, and the disease course varies among individuals.
Some people with obstructive jaundice may have no symptoms initially, but if the
condition persists, they may have severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and
vomiting. Complete blockage may also occur, posing a risk of infection leading to
liver and gallbladder damage.

The goal of the clinical evaluation is to identify the root cause for jaundice.
Fortunately, in most cases, obstructive jaundice can be treated with intravenous
fluids, antibiotics and, if necessary, surgical removal of the obstruction.

Untreated, obstructive jaundice can lead to serious infection that spreads to other
parts of the body. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms
such as high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit), severe abdominal pain,
abdominal swelling, and nausea with or without vomiting.
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Obstructive jaundice can cause any of the following symptoms, and at times, any
of these symptoms can be severe:

Abdominal pain (typically occurs in the right upper quadrant of the body)

Dark-colored urine

Diarrhea

Easy bleeding or bruising

Fever and chills

Itchy skin

Loss of appetite (anorexia)

Malaise or lethargy
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Obstructive jaundice is caused by conditions that block the normal flow of bile
from the liver into the intestines including:

Biliary stricture (narrowing of the bile duct)

Cancer of the gallbladder or pancreas

Cholangitis (infection or inflammation of the common bile duct)

Cholelithiasis (gallstones)

Congenital structural defects

Cysts of the bile duct

Lymph node enlargement

Pancreatitis