Obstructive Jaundice, Study of 33 Cases in Department of Visceral Surgery, Donka National Hospital

Abstract

Icterus or jaundice is a yellow staining of the skin and mucous membranes which occurs secondary to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood. Obstructive jaundice corresponds to a mechanical obstacle in the biliary pathways. The definitive diagnosis of obstructive jaundice in preoperative patients remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to present a number of epidemiological aspects to highlight the problems faced with diagnosis and treatment in order to ameliorate the management and prognosis of patients with obstructive jaundice. It was a retrospective study conducted on 17 male patients and 16 female patients with an average age of 51-54 years, who were surgically treated for obstructive jaundice. The main clinical presentation was characterized by icterus, pruritus and abdominal pain. Pancreatic head tumors are most commonly responsible for the presentation of obstructive jaundice (63.64%), followed by jaundice secondary to choledocholithiasis (9.06%), and stones in vesicular system (6.06%). The surgical intervention of choice was a palliative choledochoduodenostomy to divert flow of biliary juices.