title: Extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction: a retrospective study of 45 cases (1983-1993).
abstract: The medical records of 41 dogs and four cats with either surgical or postmortem confirmation of extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction were reviewed. Clinical signs of icterus, vomiting, anorexia, or a combination of these signs were exhibited by 100% of cases. Elevated serum bilirubin was documented in 37 of 41 dogs and two of four cats (86.6%). The predominant, underlying, pathological process was extraluminal obstruction of the biliary tract due to pancreatitis (19 of 45 cases; 42.2%) or neoplasia (11 of 45 cases; 24.4%). Biliary tract surgery was performed in 29 cases, of which 12 (41.3%) recovered. Animals diagnosed with extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction had a relatively good long-term prognosis, provided they were not compromised substantially due to severe necrotizing pancreatitis or neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg 24061-0442, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fahie
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002415:Cats; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007565:Jaundice / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin