[Clinical picture, differential diagnosis, and conservative therapy of biliary obstruction (author's transl)].

The history, clinical picture, and laboratory values are clues in the diagnosis of biliary obstruction. The next diagnostic procedure for the differentiation between intra- and extrahepatic obstruction is an ultrasound study. Bile duct dilatation, cholelithiasis, hydrops, and empyema can be detected quickly and reliably. Surgical and endoscopic procedures are used for the treatment of extrahepatic biliary obstruction. In special cases the lysis of the gallstones is possible with drugs given systemically or through a nasobiliary tube.