Cholestasis (cholestasis) is a group of clinical symptoms and signs caused by abnormal synthesis and secretion of bile and mechanical or functional impairment of bile flow in the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, which subsequently allows the entry of bile components into the bloodstream; it is not a disease. The main mechanisms of biliary stasis include alterations in the basolateral membrane of the hepatic sinusoids and capillary bile duct membranes (affecting membrane fluidity, changes in transporter protein and enzyme activity, decreased Na+K+ATPase activity, and decreased bile flow), alterations in the hepatic cytoskeleton (damage to the microtubule system and microfilament network, impaired bile secretion, and increased paracellular gap permeability), abnormal regulation of bile secretion (increased intracellular calcium levels, impaired bile excretion), and damage to tight junctions (increased paracellular permeability, bile reflux into the bloodstream), and obstruction of capillary and intrahepatic bile ducts (cystic fibrosis, poor bile flow), among other aspects. A variety of factors can cause these functional impairments, commonly including drugs, sepsis, hepatitis, genetic factors, infection, immunity, etc. Moreover, the degree of damage to hepatocytes and intrahepatic bile duct cells at all levels caused by different etiologies varies, and the type of clinical manifestations that eventually result can vary in severity. Therefore, cholestasis can be caused by various causes of impaired bile production, secretion and excretion.