Endotoxemia in obstructive jaundice. Observations on cause and clinical significance.

Perioperative endotoxemia was detected in 24 of 40 patients who underwent operation for obstructive jaundice (bilirubin level greater than 5.8 mg/dl). Endotoxemia was associated with an increased admission serum bilirubin level (p less than 0.05) and white blood cell count (p less than 0.05) and a decreased hematocrit value (p less than 0.05), but there was no significant association with other established preoperative risk factors. Patients with preoperative endotoxemia had a decreased immunoglobulin M anti-J5 endotoxin titer (p less than 0.05) and a decreased serum bile acid concentration (p less than 0.05). Preoperative endotoxemia was associated with reduced creatinine clearance before and after operation (p less than 0.05). There was no association between endotoxemia and clinical sepsis, gram-negative infection, or small-bowel colonization. Patients who died had increased preoperative serum fibrin degradation products (p less than 0.05).