Cholestasis

Failure of normal amounts of bile to reach the intestine, resulting in obstructive jaundice. May be caused by bile stones or liver disease.


Halt in production and secretion of bile by the liver.


A condition in which all bile does not pass into the intestine but some remains in the liver and causes jaundice.


Interruption in bile flow, caused by hepatitis or other liver disorder, alcohol or drug use, or obstruction (e.g., by calculi or tumor) in bile ducts, and marked by pale, fatty stools, itching, and jaundice.


Stoppage of the flow of bile, most often due to an obstructive process.


Diminished bile flow from the liver. Cholestasis leads to jaundice {a yellowing of t he skin and the whites of the eyes) and liver damage. It may be detected in a physical examination, in which the physician can detect jaundice by sight and can determine from tapping and feeling the abdomen whether the liver is tender or enlarged. Other investigations may include blood tests, ultrasound scanning, and a liver biopsy. To prevent liver damage, diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of cholestasis is essential.


Failure of normal amounts of bile to reach the intestine, resulting in obstructive jaundice. The cause may be a mechanical block in the bile ducts, such as a stone extrahepatic biliary obstruction), or liver disease, such as that caused by certain drugs in some hypersensitive individuals (intrahepatic cholestasis). The symptoms are jaundice with dark urine, pale feces, and occasionally itching (pruritus).


A reduction or stoppage in the flow of bile into the intestine, caused either by a blockage such as a stone in the bile duct or by liver disease disturbing the production of bile. The first type is called extrahepatic biliary obstruction and the second intrahepatic cholestasis. The patient develops jaundice and itching and passes dark urine and pale faeces. Cholestasis may occasionally occur during pregnancy.


Arrest of the flow of bile. This may be due to intrahepatic causes, obstruction of the bile duct by gallstones, or any process that blocks the bile duct (e.g., cancer).


Biliary stasis refers to the condition where bile accumulates and remains stagnant in the small bile ducts within the liver. This stagnant bile can result in jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes, as well as liver disease. The obstruction to the normal flow of bile can occur either within the liver itself (intrahepatic) or in the bile ducts outside the liver (extrahepatic). Intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary stasis can lead to the impairment of bile flow and the associated symptoms and complications. Prompt medical attention is crucial to address the underlying cause and restore the normal functioning of the bile ducts for optimal liver health.


Intrahepatic cholestasis can arise due to viral hepatitis or as an unfavorable consequence of different medications. The gradual amelioration of bile movement occurs as the inflammation caused by hepatitis diminishes or when the administration of the responsible drug is terminated.


Obstructions in the bile ducts located outside the liver may arise due to anomalies like gallstones or tumors. In rare cases, the ducts may be congenitally absent.


Surgical intervention is commonly employed to address bile duct obstruction and biliary atresia, aiming to guarantee or reinstate the unimpeded flow of bile from the liver to the duodenum.


 


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