Endotoxinemia in patients with obstructive jaundice is
linked to acute renal failure and sepsis and remains a major
cause of complications during postoperative treatment. The
current study examines the mechanisms of endotoxinemia in the
portal and the systemic circulation in obstructive jaundice. As
an experimental model of the disease we used rabbits subjected
to sham operation. Serum total bilirubin aminotransferases and
endotoxin concentrations were determined at 2, 5, 8, and 13 days
after operation. Endotoxin concentrations were estimated by the
limulus lysate endotoxin test. A high frequency of portal or
systemic endotoxinemia is observed in obstructive jaundice, but
no difference between endotoxinemia levels in the portal and
systemic circulation was observed.