Jaundice due to Gallstones

Obstructive Jaundice

Obstructive jaundice caused by obstruction of the bile ducts, as with gallstones. The liver normally produces about 1 litre of bile each day, which is secreted (passed) into the bile duct system and stored in the gallbladder. The bile duct empties into the upper intestine (duodenum) to help in digestion. Obstruction anywhere in this drainage system causes the blood levels of bilirubin to increase, resulting in "obstructive jaundice." Common causes of obstructive jaundice include gallstones and tumors of the pancreas or bile duct. With gallstones, jaundice may be intermittent if the stone is not firmly stuck. Rarer causes of obstructive jaundice include parasites such as worms, scarring from previous surgical procedures, bile duct inflammations, and, in infancy, congenital malformations of the bile duct system. Additional symptoms of obstructive jaundice include dark urine, pale feces, and itching, although there is no pain. Sometimes the cause of obstructive jaundice is cancer (malignant obstructive jaundice), in which case treatment is by chemotherapy, radiation, and/or biliary drainage (surgery is rarely used). Obstructive jaundice is often accompanied by severe irritation of the skin ('pruritus'), due to a buildup of other bile constituents (salts) in the blood. In addition, because the bile is not entering the intestine, the stools will be unusually pale in colour and may be bulky and smelly. This is called steatorrhea.