What happens when pancreatic duct is obstructed?
When the bile ducts are blocked, retention of bile salts in the blood can result also in considerable itching (pruritus). Blockage of the bile ducts or pancreatic ducts can cause pain due to overdistention. Lack of insulin secretion by the pancreas results in diabetes.
What does the duct of Wirsung do?
A large main duct, the duct of Wirsung, collects pancreatic juice and empties into the duodenum. In many individuals a smaller duct (the duct of Santorini) also empties into the duodenum. Enzymes active in the digestion of carbohydrates, fat, and protein continuously flow from the pancreas through these ducts.
What would happen if a person’s bile duct is blocked?
When the bile ducts become blocked, bile builds up in the liver, and jaundice (yellow color of the skin) develops due to the increasing level of bilirubin in the blood.
Can a patient with obstruction of the pancreatic duct digest sucrose?
Sucrase is a disaccharidase on the brush border of the small intestine, so Cecile’s pancreatic duct blockage does not prevent breakdown of sucrose.
Can bile duct blockage be cured?
The goal of treatment is to relieve the blockage. Stones may be removed using an endoscope during an ERCP. In some cases, surgery is required to bypass the blockage. The gallbladder will usually be surgically removed if the blockage is caused by gallstones.
How is biliary obstruction diagnosed?
The following tests may be used to investigate a possible blocked bile duct:
- Abdominal ultrasound.
- Abdominal CT scan.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
What will happen if the bile duct is blocked?
If something is blocking the bile duct, bile can back up into the liver. This can cause jaundice, a condition in which the skin and white of the eyes become yellow. The bile duct might become infected and require emergency surgery if the stone or blockage is not removed.