Obstructive Jaundice

Obstructive jaundice occurs when there is a blockage in the bile flow from the liver to the small intestine. This leads to a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, causing yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine, pale stools, and other systemic symptoms. The condition can result from benign or malignant causes, and prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications.

Causes of Obstructive Jaundice

Benign Causes:

• Gallstones: Stones obstructing the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis).
• Bile Duct Strictures: Often due to previous surgeries, infections, or inflammatory conditions like pancreatitis.
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC): Chronic inflammation and scarring of bile ducts.
• Parasitic Infections: Rare, caused by organisms like liver flukes.

Malignant Causes:

• Pancreatic Cancer: Tumors at the head of the pancreas compressing the bile duct.
• Cholangiocarcinoma: Cancer of the bile ducts.
• Gallbladder Cancer: Advanced disease invading the bile ducts.

Symptoms of Obstructive Jaundice

• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and sclera.
• Dark Urine: Due to bilirubin excretion in the urine.
• Pale Stools: From lack of bile pigments in the stool.
• Pruritus: Severe itching caused by bile salt accumulation.
• Abdominal Pain: Common in gallstone-related obstruction or malignancies.
• Fever and Chills: Indicative of associated cholangitis.