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 an overflow of 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. 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. Fortunately, in most cases, obstructive jaundice can be treated with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and surgical removal of the obstruction. What are the symptoms of obstructive jaundice? Obstructive jaundice can cause many different types of symptoms, which vary in intensity among individuals. Common symptoms of obstructive jaundice 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 Pale stools Unintentional weight loss Yellow coloration of the eyes and skin (jaundice) Serious symptoms that might indicate a lifethreatening condition In some cases, obstructive jaundice can be life threatening. Seek immediate medical care (call 911)if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

Abdominal swelling, distension and bloating High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit) Nausea with or without vomiting Severe abdominal pain What causes obstructive jaundice? Obstructive jaundice is a condition in which there is a blockage of the flow of bile out of the liver. This results in an overflow of bile and its byproducts into the blood, and bile excretion from the body is incomplete. Bilirubin, a component of bile, is yellow, which gives the characteristic yellow appearance of jaundice in the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. The most common cause of obstructive jaundice is the presence of gallstones (cholelithiasis). Other causes of obstructive jaundice are tumors, trauma, cysts, and inflammation in the bile ducts. Causes of obstructive jaundice 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 Parasitic infection Trauma, including surgical complications What are the risk factors for obstructive jaundice? A number of factors increase your risk of developing obstructive jaundice. Not all people with risk factors will get obstructive jaundice. Risk factors for obstructive jaundice include: Abdominal injury Gallstones Pancreatic cancer Tumors in the area of the common bile duct How is obstructive jaundice treated? Your health care professional can develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. It is important to precisely follow your treatment plan for obstructive jaundice to help minimize your symptoms and decrease the chance of your symptoms recurring over time. To determine if you have obstructive jaundice, your health care provider may ask you to provide blood samples and undergo diagnostic tests. Treatment options for obstructive jaundice Treatment options for obstructive jaundice depend on the exact cause of the jaundice and on the severity of the disease. Examples include:

Antibiotic therapy (if indicated for infection) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an imaging procedure that allows treatment of some bile duct problems, including removal of gallstones that are causing obstruction Intravenous fluids and pain medications Nutritional support Surgery or other procedures to repair anatomical defects or create alternative pathways for the flow of bile