bile duct problem

by joy
(muscat)

My Mothers Obstructed Bile Duct Symptoms

My mother is now 60 and having symptoms of Sleeplessness, itching, loose motion and low HB. While doing LFT total Bilurubin was 8.2, direct 7.1, SGOT 51, SGPT 54 and alkaline p 371

While performing an ultra sound scan the following was the impression Bilateral infra hepatic pilary radicle dilatation with dilated CBD and PD without any oblivious mass at head of pancreas, priumpulary mass. Suggestions CECT/MRCP for further evaluation the scan and LFT was done on 09.04.2011

Answer: Your Mothers Obstructed Bile Duct Problem

Your mothers blood tests are consistent with an obstructed bile duct and pancreatic duct. These are the tubes that drain bile from the liver and gallbladder and pancreatic fluid from the pancreas. This suggests something is blocking the flow of bile and pancreatic fluid as it enters the duodenum or small bowel. The blood tests show that your mother has an obstructed system and she is also anaemic. Her symptoms of itching, loose motion and sleeplessness are common symptoms of this. She has probably also noticed her urine going darker in colour and also her loose motions becoming lighter.

A common cause for obstructed bile duct symptoms are gallstones. However, your mother is anaemic and this is of concern. Whilst it might not be related, other causes of an obstructed bile duct include strictures or narrowings, a common causes being cancer of the pancreatic head, cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile duct) and ampullary carcinoma (cancer of the ampulla). These tumours are more common in people of your mums age and whilst this hasn’t been picked up on the ultrasound, a CT or MRCP (MRI scan) will help to determine if this is the case. You mother may need an ERCP test to determine the cause and also relieve the obstruction. This is an endoscopic test where a camera is passed under sedation down from the mouth to the small bowel and contrast dye injected in the biliary system. This contrast shows up using x-ray technology. A tube or stent can be deployed to relieve the obstruction and if gallstones are the cause then they may be retrieved. Hope all turns out well for your mother.


Have you seen a doctor about this? You may need some physio to help with this.




My name is Dr Peter Thatcher MBBS, MRCPI and I am a consultant physician and gastroenterologist in the UK. I have an interest in internet based medicine and administer this site in my spare time. I hope you find this site useful and informative. If you have any suggestions, please Contact Me or if you would like to comment on my site, please do so by Clicking Here. If you like the site and would like to make a donation to support what I am doing please do so by Clicking Here. Thank you for visiting and please drop by again!