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    Description

    Bile is a fluid that helps digest fats. It is produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Biliary obstruction involves blockage of any duct that carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder or from the gallbladder to the small intestine. It is usually caused by tumours or gallstones. This can cause jaundice, nausea and stomach pain.

    In this procedure, a thin flexible tube called an endoscope, with an ultrasound probe at the tip, is passed through the mouth and into the stomach or small intestine. The blockage is located using sound waves. The blocked bile duct is then punctured with a needle, and a small tube called a stent is inserted to allow the bile to drain into the gut.