What happens if you have a blockage in your liver?
If the “drainpipe” at the bottom of the liver, or the common bile duct, remains blocked, a buildup of bilirubin in the bloodstream can lead to jaundice. This blockage can also lead to bacteria backing up into the liver, which can cause a severe infection known as ascending cholangitis.
How serious is a blockage in the liver?
If the blockage is not corrected, it can lead to life-threatening infection and a dangerous buildup of bilirubin. If the blockage lasts a long time, chronic liver disease can result. Most obstructions can be treated with endoscopy or surgery. Obstructions caused by cancer often have a worse outcome.
What can be done for a blockage in the liver?
Treatment is aimed at correcting the underlying cause. The primary objective of medical or surgical treatment is to alleviate the blockage. Some of the treatment options include a cholecystectomy and an ERCP. A cholecystectomy is the removal of the gallbladder if there are gallstones.
What causes a blockage in the liver?
In most cases cholangitis is caused by a blocked duct somewhere in your bile duct system. The blockage is most commonly caused by gallstones or sludge impacting the bile ducts. Autoimmune disease such as primary sclerosing cholangitis may affect the system.
How is ERCP performed?
The Procedure An ERCP uses x-ray films and is performed in an x-ray room. The patient is sedated. The endoscope is then gently inserted into the upper esophagus. The patient breathes easily throughout the exam, with gagging rarely occurring.
What is an ERCP surgery?
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, is a procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. It combines X-ray and the use of an endoscope—a long, flexible, lighted tube.
How complicated is bile duct removal surgery?
Any surgery on the bile duct itself is complicated because the anatomy of the liver is complex and because the duct is very closely associated with the blood vessels that are connected to the gallbladder and liver. The liver carries out hundreds of different functions, so its blood supply is very rich.
What happens if bile duct is removed?
As a result of an injury, the bile duct will not be able to work right, leaking bile into the abdomen or blocking the normal flow of bile from the liver. Bile duct injuries lead to symptoms that can be painful, even deadly, if not treated.
Is ERCP a surgery?
What happens if there is a blockage in the liver?
When a blockage occurs in any of the bile ducts, bile accumulates within nearby structures. As bile builds up in the liver, it causes jaundice and other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal pain. Depending on the cause, these symptoms can develop abruptly or slowly with time.
What causes mild liver dysfunction after liver surgery?
Postoperative Liver Dysfunction. Mild liver dysfunction sometimes occurs after major surgery even in the absence of preexisting liver disorders. This dysfunction usually results from hepatic ischemia or poorly understood effects of anesthesia. Patients with preexisting well-compensated liver disease (eg, cirrhosis with normal liver function)…
Can a hepatic vein obstruction lead to liver failure?
Causes. One of the signs is swelling of the abdomen from fluid buildup ( ascites ). The liver is often swollen and tender. Treatment varies, depending on the cause of the blockage. Surgery may be recommended. Hepatic vein obstruction can get worse and lead to liver failure, which can be life threatening.
What causes bile duct obstruction after gallbladder removal?
Lastly, parasite infections with flukes can also cause bile duct disease and obstruction. Bile duct obstruction after gallbladder removal is possible, due either to biliary tract injury from surgery or to the other potential causes. What are the risk factors for a bile duct obstruction?