Pathophysiology of renal failure in obstructive jaundice.

This paper aims to consider the several factors which may participate in renal failure occurring in surgery in patients with obstructive jaundice. The role of bilirubin and bile acids and the endotoxin effects related to lipid A, the active fragment of bacterial lipopolysaccharides, have been investigated to analyze their responsibility in propensities to hypotension and to postoperative acute renal failure.