Obstructive Jaundice: Causes

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 by-products 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