Obstructive jaundice

Question 1

Can you survive without a liver?

Answer 1

No

Question 2

What percentage of your liver do you need to survive?

Answer 2

25- 33%. Liver will regrow however you need enough of it to carry out normal functions until it grows back

Question 3

Can you survive without a pancreas?

Answer 3

Yes but without it you would suffer from steatorrhoea and diabetes

Question 4

What blood tests would you use to diagnose obstructive jaundice?

Answer 4

WCC and CRP
PT
Serum amylase

Question 5

What are signs of obstructive jaundice?

Answer 5

Jaundice
Pale stools
Dark urine
Liver function tests

Question 6

What are symptoms of obstructive jaundice?

Answer 6

Colicky pain- severe abdominal pain causes by wind or intestinal obstruction
Epigastric pain

Question 7

What liver functions tests would you carry out to diagnose obstructive jaundice?

Answer 7

Bilirubin levels (increased)
Alkaline phosphatase (increased)
Transaminases (ALT + AST) (increased)

Question 8

What radiological investigations would be carried out to diagnose obstructive jaundice?

Answer 8

Ultrasound first
MRCP if US isn’t clear
CT