The nurse is collecting data for a patient with cholelithiasis who is found to have clay-colored stools. Which of these does the nurse recognize is the most common cause of clay-colored stools?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clay-colored stools are a common sign of obstructive jaundice caused by an obstruction in the common bile duct, which is most commonly caused by a gallstone. The obstruction prevents the passage of bile into the small intestine, resulting in decreased bilirubin excretion and ultimately clay-colored stools. Cirrhosis can also cause clay-colored stools, but it is less common than gallstones. Retrograde bile flow into the liver and accumulation of bile salts in the skin do not cause clay-colored stools.

The Nurse Is Collecting Data for a Patient with Cholelithiasis