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biliary bypass

(BIH-lee-AYR-ee BY-pas)
Surgery done to help relieve symptoms caused by a blocked bile duct. During a biliary bypass, the gallbladder or a part of the bile duct before the blockage is connected to either a part of the bile duct that is past the blockage or to the small intestine. This allows bile (fluid made by the liver) to flow around the blockage to the gallbladder or small intestine. A blocked bile duct may be caused by cancer or other conditions, such as gallstones, infection, or scar tissue. A biliary bypass is usually done in patients who have bile duct tumors that cannot be completely removed by surgery.
Anatomy of the gallbladder; shows the liver, common hepatic duct, cystic duct, common bile duct, pancreas, and small intestine. The inset shows the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, pancreas, and small intestine.Enlarge this image in new window
Anatomy of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is just below the liver. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and flows through the cystic duct and the common bile duct into the small intestine when food is being digested.
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