Biliary Obstruction
Biliary obstruction happens when the bile duct is blocked. Blockage in these vessels can potentially cause serious complications if untreated, as it won’t be able to transport pancreatic juice or bile to the intestines for digestive purposes. As a result, bile builds up in the liver, increasing the levels of bilirubin in the blood, which can lead to abdominal swelling or pain, chills, fever, chest pain, weakness, fatigue, nausea, lightheadedness, and dark urine, to name a few examples.
Many things can cause biliary obstruction, with the most common being gallstones. Also referred to as cholelithiasis, this condition happens when bile solidifies in the gallbladder due to high cholesterol levels in the blood and gets stuck in the bile duct. Tumors caused by cancer in the bile duct, pancreas, and gallbladder may also result in obstructions. It’s also possible to get biliary obstruction from injury or infections, especially when taking immunosuppressive medications.
To diagnose the condition, doctors generally order a blood test to evaluate the level of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and specific liver and pancreatic enzymes. Results suggest biliary obstruction is typically followed by ultrasound, computed tomography, or MRCP. Treatments involve the removal of the blockage.
