DefinitionBile duct obstruction is a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.See also:Acute cholecystitisCholedocholithiasisGallstonesAlternative NamesBiliary obstructionCauses, incidence, and risk factorsBile is a liquid released by the liver. It contains cholesterol, bile salts, and waste products such as bilirubin. Bile salts help your body break down (digest) fats. Bile passes out of the liver through the bile ducts and is stored in the gallbladder. After a meal, it is released into the small intestine.When the bile ducts become blocked, bile builds up in the liver, and jaundice(yellow color of the skin) develops due to the increasing levels of bilirubin in the blood.The possible causes of a blocked bile duct include:Cysts of the comm