Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Better survival in dogs with bile duct blockage
By Pakhawala, Jay et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2026·1Department of Internal Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Medical management and endoscopic biliary stenting associated with improved outcomes compared with surgery for extrahepatic biliary duct obstructions in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Labrador was diagnosed with a blockage in the bile duct, which can cause serious health issues. The dog was treated with either medication, a special endoscopic procedure to place a stent, or surgery. The results showed that dogs treated with medication or the stenting procedure had much better survival rates and fewer complications compared to those that had surgery. In fact, most dogs managed with just supportive care ended up recovering on their own. This suggests that less invasive treatments can be safer and more effective for dogs with bile duct obstructions.
People also search for: dog bile duct obstruction treatment · Labrador bile duct blockage · endoscopic stenting for dogs · dog pancreatitis recovery · dog surgery complications
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare short- and long-term clinical outcomes in dogs with extrahepatic biliary duct obstruction (EHBO) managed medically, with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC)-assisted biliary stenting, or with surgical biliary decompression. METHODS: Medical records from 28 client-owned dogs diagnosed with EHBO and treated at a single veterinary referral center between 2012 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively as part of an observational study. Inclusion criteria included common bile duct dilation (> 3 mm) and clinicopathologic evidence of biliary obstruction. Dogs were grouped based on treatment modality: medical management, ERC (ERC-assisted biliary stenting), or surgery. Outcomes included survival to discharge, median survival time, and complications. RESULTS: 28 dogs were included: 10 medically managed, 12 treated with ERC-assisted biliary stenting, and 6 treated surgically. Survival to discharge was 100% (medical), 92% (ERC), and 33% (surgical). Median survival time was not reached in medical or ERC groups; the surgical group had a median survival time of 4 days. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography achieved technical success in 86% of cases and had a lower complication rate than surgery. Most dogs managed medically experienced spontaneous resolution of EHBO with supportive care. Pancreatitis as the cause of EHBO was associated with not surviving to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Medical management and ERC-assisted biliary stenting were associated with improved short- and long-term survival rates and fewer complications compared to surgical intervention. Surgical intervention was associated with the highest mortality and complication rates. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: ERC-assisted biliary stenting and medical management may provide safer alternatives for similar etiologies to surgery for dogs with EHBO, particularly in facilities with interventional endoscopic capabilities. In many cases, supportive care alone may lead to spontaneous resolution of EHBO.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41671685/