Post-hepatic jaundice is a condition that is caused by problems within the bile ducts that cause bile not to be drained properly into the ducts and passed out of the body. Bilirubin can then build up in the blood and cause illness for patients with this condition. Various underlying conditions are often present in cases of post-hepatic jaundice, and treating these health conditions is key to treating and preventing post-hepatic jaundice.
The common symptoms of post-hepatic jaundice are:
The causes of post-hepatic jaundice are:
The risk factors for this condition are:
Diagnosis of this condition requires a variety of different tests. Your doctor will order a CBC, which is a blood test that looks at the substances that have not been filtered out of your blood by the liver. This blood test can also screen for indicators of cancer. A urinalysis will also likely be needed to look for substances in the urine that have not been filtered out by the liver.
Imaging tests like MRI or ultrasound might be needed to look at the health of the liver and the gallbladder and to get information about the function of the bile ducts. Endoscopy can be done as well to collect a sample of liver tissue to look more closely at the bile ducts and their function.
Treatment of this liver condition requires the correct diagnosis of the underlying condition that is causing the liver health challenges. In the case of gallstones, diet changes will be needed or the gallbladder might be removed entirely. There are medications that can dissolve gallstones as well.
For those with cancer of the bile ducts or pancreatic cancer, surgery is usually required to remove tumours or affected tissue. Chemotherapy might also need to be done to prevent the spread of cancer to other organs and tissues.
Pancreatitis is usually treated with rest, IV fluids, pain medications, and addressing underlying gallstone-related problems. For those with biliary atresia, the most common treatment is the Kasai procedure to remove or replace bile ducts.
A liver transplant might be the best option for advanced cases of any of these conditions. The liver does not heal like other organs, so when it becomes too compromised, this can be the only solution left to patients struggling with the symptoms of post-hepatic jaundice.
Prevention of this health concern might not be possible, depending upon the cause. However, eating a healthy diet, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol on a regular basis, and getting enough exercise can make a big impact when it comes to avoiding this liver health problem. Patients should always seek immediate medical attention if they are experiencing symptoms related to post-hepatic jaundice in order to prevent severe damage to their liver.