The bile ducts that emerge from the liver are important structures in the body. However, their small size makes them vulnerable to various pathological processes that interrupt their structure and function. Such abnormalities in turn lead to a series of other problems.
Anatomy of the Biliary Tree
The passage of bile, a fluid mixture that aids in intestinal fat absorption, starts adjacent to the liver cells themselves. Each liver cell, or hepatocyte, produces bile and drains it into little canaliculi alongside the liver cells. These canaliculi coalesce and ultimately form larger ducts. When viewing the liver with the naked eye, one can see ducts emerging from the left and right sides of the liver. These ducts merge until it forms one single duct, the common bile duct. The common bile duct also receives bile from the gallbladder through its cystic duct. The common bile duct ends at a sphincter in the small intestine and, at this point, receives enzymes from the pancreas through its pancreatic duct.
Causes of Biliary Obstruction
Given this complex structure, the passage of bile can be blocked from within the liver (intrahepatic) or outside the liver (extrahepatic) and involve causes inside the duct (intraductal) or outside the duct (extraductal). Intrahepatic causes of biliary obstruction include hepatitis and cirrhosis, both of which have numerous biological and chemical causes of their own. Extrahepatic causes of biliary obstruction include gallstones, tumors, parasites, inflammation of the bile ducts, and fibrotic strictures secondary to traumatic injury.
Effects of Biliary Obstruction
Whatever the cause, biilary obstruction results in two things: backflow of bile prior to the obstruction and absence of bile after the obstruction. Before the point of obstruction, bile accumulates so that excessive amounts reach the bloodstream. This results in yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), discolored urine, and itchy skin. Meanwhile, if bile does not reach the intestine, ingested fats will be unabsorbed and be excreted via defecation. As a result, the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K will not be absorbed either, increasing the risk of deficiency of such vitamins. Furthermore, without the pigment content of bile that gives feces its characteristic color, stools will appear pale.
Evaluation of Biliary Obstruction
The evaluation of biliary obstruction often occurs when a patient presents with jaundice. In general, a physician orders lab tests to check levels of bilirubin and liver enzymes in the blood and establish that biliary obstruction might be occurring. Evaluation to specifically rule out biliary obstruction involves imaging studies, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and cholangiography. Once a diagnosis is established, the physician proceeds to treating that underlying problem.
Final Words
The preceding information is meant to be an overview and do not comprise a complete list of facts related to the causes, effects, and evaluation of biliary obstruction.
