This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Extrahepatic cholestasis results from the mechanical obstruction to large bile ducts outside the liver or within the porta hepatis.

The liver is enlarged and the intra-hepatic bile ducts widely dilated. The bile ducts proliferate in the portal zones. Infection of the bile above the obstruction leads to cholangitis; the ducts contain pus and may be surrounded by small abscesses.

The biochemical derangement is reinforced by clinical symptoms and signs:

  • pale stool - no bilirubin reaching gastrointestinal tract for conversion to stercobilin
  • dark orange urine - reflux of conjugated bilirubin into blood and excretion in urine

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.