Biliary Obstruction

Biliary Obstruction refers to the blockage of any duct that carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder or from the gallbladder to the small intestine. Symptoms typically include abdominal pain in the upper right side, dark urine, fever, itching, jaundice, nausea and vomiting or pale-colored stools.

What Causes Biliary Obstruction?

Some of the common causes of biliary obstruction include gallstones, chronic pancreatitis, choledochal cysts, injury during surgery or cancer.

Diagnosing Biliary Obstruction:

One of our talented physicians will examine your gallbladder and check your symptoms. Lab tests will be ordered to check the levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, pancreatic enzymes and liver enzymes. If levels indicate a biliary obstruction, your doctor may confirm the diagnosis using ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Treatment for Biliary Obstruction:

Biliary obstruction can be treated by removing the blockage or curing the underlying cause. Surgical procedures like gallbladder removal may be required to treat biliary obstruction caused by recurring gallstones. Any surgical procedures such as gallbladder or cyst removal are referred to a talented surgeon.