Sunday, February, 12, 2012

Biliary obstruction

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Biliary obstruction


Symptoms
  • Abdominal pain in the upper right side
  • Dark urine
  • Fever
  • Itching
  • Jaundice (yellow skin color)
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pale-colored stools

Signs and tests

Your health care provider will examine your abdomen and may be able to feel the gallbladder.

The following blood test results could be a sign of a possible blockage:

  • Increased bilirubin level
  • Increased alkaline phosphatase level
  • Increased liver enzymes

The following tests may be used to investigate a possible blocked bile duct:

  • Abdominal ultrasound
  • Abdominal CT scan
  • ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
  • Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
  • Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

A blocked bile duct may also alter the results of the following tests:

  • Amylase blood test
  • Gallbladder radionuclide scan
  • Urine bilirubin

Review Date: 05/23/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)