Cholecystojejunostomy is performed to relieve obstructive jaundice and is generally considered a palliative procedure. Which choice best reflects this statement?

• A. It involves rerouting pancreatic and biliary drainage and is often palliative.
• B. It removes the head of the pancreas.
• C. It removes the gallbladder.
• D. It drains bile directly into the stomach.

Answer: (A)

Relieving obstructive jaundice by creating a new drainage path for bile is the key idea. In cholecystojejunostomy, the gallbladder is connected to a loop of the jejunum, allowing bile to drain directly into the small intestine and bypass the blocked bile duct. This approach is palliative because it eases symptoms and improves drainage without curing the underlying disease, which is often advanced cancer or another unresectable obstruction.

The option that describes rerouting biliary drainage and notes it is often palliative captures this concept exactly: it focuses on establishing an alternative bile drainage route to alleviate jaundice rather than addressing the disease itself. In contrast, actions like removing the head of the pancreas or removing the gallbladder address other conditions or anatomy and wouldn’t specifically relieve obstructive jaundice in the described scenario. Draining bile into the stomach is a different, less common route and not the standard cholecystojejunostomy.