Biliary stricture

Alternative names:

bile duct stricture

Definition:

An abnormal narrowing of the biliary duct that transports bile from the liver to the small intestine.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Bile is a liquid secreted by the liver that contains products such as bilirubin, cholesterol, and bile salts. Bile salts aid with the digestion of fats. Bile passes out of the liver through the bile duct and is concentrated and stored in the gallbladder or duct from the gall bladder to the intestine. It is released into the small intestine after a meal to aid with digestion of fats. A stricture usually causes partial or complete obstruction of the gallbladder. Biliary strictures are usually caused by surgical trauma. Leakage of bile may cause localized infection, scar tissue formation, and fibrous stricture formation. Other causes are blunt injury to the intestine, pancreatitis, or breakdown of the duct by a gallstone in the bile duct. The incidence is 2 out of 10,000 people. Risk factors are biliary surgery, previous pancreatitis, previous cholelithiasis, or injury to the intestine.