Final answer:
When a gallstone lodges in the common bile duct, it can cause a blockage leading to jaundice, pain, infection, and inflammation. If untreated, complications can arise, and treatments include medication, ERCP, or surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a gallstone lodges in the common bile duct, it can lead to a blockage that prevents bile from flowing into the small intestine as needed. This condition is also known as choledocholithiasis. The common bile duct is a critical pathway through which bile, a digestive liquid produced by the liver, travels to the small intestine where it aids in the digestion of fats.
Bile contains substances like cholesterol, bile acids, and bilirubin, among others. If cholesterol levels are too high, or other imbalances exist, gallstones can form. When these stones get stuck in the bile duct, they can cause a series of health issues. One of the most recognized outcomes is jaundice, which is characterized by a yellowing of the skin and eyes due to the accumulation of bilirubin - a bile pigment - in the blood. As bile flow is obstructed, bilirubin is unable to be excreted normally and builds up, leading to this discoloration.
In addition to jaundice, other symptoms such as pain, infection, or inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis), pancreatitis due to blocked pancreatic ducts, and liver damage can occur. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to significant health complications.
Depending on the size of the stone and the severity of the obstruction, treatment options range from medication to dissolve the gallstones, to procedures like endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), or surgical intervention for removal of the gallstones or gallbladder. It's important to address such obstructions promptly to avoid complications like biliary colic, acute cholecystitis, or cholangitis.