Serum bile acids in portal hypertension part I: the effects of the distal splenorenal shunt and splenectomy-devascularisation operation on the levels of serum bile acids

ABSTRACT

Twenty patients with child group A portal hypertension were subjected to Warren's distal splenorenal shunt [10 patients] and splenectomy- devascularization operation [10 patients]. Serum bile acids were studied preoperatively, one week and one month after each procedure. Both procedures led to the rise of serum bile acids, though more significant with the later. Such observation has a predictive value as it is known that the rise in serum bile acids precedes the impairment of the other routine liver function tests which showed less significant concomitant variation during the period of the study. Long term follow up is needed for confirmation