Obstructive Jaundice

Abstract

Jaundice is a medical condition in which the skin or sclera of the eyes becomes yellow, and elevation of bilirubin production or obstruction of bile excretion can cause jaundice while disrupting the balance between bilirubin production and bile excretion. Jaundice is a very visual clinical sign that both patients and physicians can easily recognize. It warrants further investigation regarding the cause of jaundice because jaundice is always a pathological sign regardless of its seriousness. Clinical manifestations of obstructive jaundice can be understood in terms of bile formation and secretion, and the anatomy of the biliary tree. Obstruction of a critical part of the biliary tree such as the common bile duct can cause jaundice, and investigating the etiology of jaundice is the first step of managing this condition. Choledocholithiasis, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and biliary atresia are some of the common medical conditions that cause obstructive jaundice. Whenever jaundice is observed by a physician, early diagnosis and prompt treatment should be performed as early as possible for better outcomes.