Abstract

Obstructive jaundice (OJ) is an important clinical problem that may lead to serious sequelaes. The systemic consequences of obstructive jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia are wound breakdown, sepsis, coagulopathy, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cardiovascular problems, immunodepression and renal failure. Gram(-) endotoxemia and sepsis are life threatening problems which are seen very frequently in patients with obstructive jaundice (OJ). Systemic endotoxemia developed in OJ is the result of the depression in the clearance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and other endotoxins in the portal circulation by Kupffer cells in the liver which are originated as a result of bacterial translocation. The sensitivity of the host to LPS and other endotoxins is increased in OJ and endotoxins become much more harmful in obstructive jaundiced patients than in healthy. To clarify this issue we rewieved the literature and searched the jaundice and sepsis relation.