ABSTRACT
Blood oxygen saturation, keton boby ratio and endotoxin concentration of arterial and hepatic venous blood were measured in 12 adult patients before, during and after extracorporeal circulation (ECC). When rectal temperature returned to 32°C during ECC, the levels of hepatic venous blood oxygen saturation (ShvO<sub>2</sub>) and arterial keton body ratio, hepatic venous keton body ratio decreased. The serum level of endotoxin concentration was within normal limits on the operative day and increased at the first and second day after surgery. In three patients in whom the level of ShvO<sub>2</sub> was under 50% at 60 minutes after ECC, postoperative liver dysfunction occurred frequently. Endotoxin changes on the first day after surgery is probably due to recovery differences between hepatic and gastrointestinal circulations.