Surgical treatment of obstructive jaundice

Abstract

Patients with obstructive jaundice must be completely evaluated and prepared before any invasive procedure be performed in order to reduce complications, mainly infection, blood coagulation disorders and renal failure. There are several causes of obstructive jaundice and the main cause is choledocholithiais. About 6-10% of the patients with stones of the gallbladder also have choledocholithiasis. Other common causes of obstructive jaundice include malignant and benign stricture of the common bile duct. Hemobilia, Caroli’s disease, cyst of choledocus, duodenal diverticuli and worms of the biliary tract are infrequent causes. Surgical treatment of all these conditions is discussed.