A client with suspected biliary obstruction reports changes in stool color. Which stool color is common with biliary obstruction?

A client with suspected biliary obstruction reports changes in stool color. Which stool color is common with biliary obstruction?

• A. Red
• B. Gray
• C. Black
• D. Green

Answer: (B)

Stool color change with biliary obstruction happens because bile pigments aren’t reaching the intestine. Bile contains bilirubin, which is processed in the gut to stercobilin, giving stool its brown color. When the bile duct is blocked, bilirubin can’t enter the intestine, so stercobilin isn’t formed and the stool becomes pale gray or clay-colored. This pale stool often accompanies other signs of cholestasis, like dark urine from bilirubin excretion in the urine. Other stool colors point to different issues, but gray stool is the typical finding with biliary obstruction.

Stool color change with biliary obstruction happens because bile pigments aren’t reaching the intestine. Bile contains bilirubin, which is processed in the gut to stercobilin, giving stool its brown color. When the bile duct is blocked, bilirubin can’t enter the intestine, so stercobilin isn’t formed and the stool becomes pale gray or clay-colored. This pale stool often accompanies other signs of cholestasis, like dark urine from bilirubin excretion in the urine. Other stool colors point to different issues, but gray stool is the typical finding with biliary obstruction.