Protein supplementation in the management of degenerating liver function after jejunoileal bypass.

Five patients who began to have signs of degenerating liver function develop after jejunoileal bypass were treated with protein supplementation, either on an outpatient or inpatient basis, making use of preparations orally and intravenously. Subjective as well as objective evidence of improving liver function was obtained, and all patients have survived. It is important to maintain a high protein intake postoperatively. The most useful tests for assessing the status of liver function in these patients have been serum albumin, serum bilirubin and prothrombin time.