Peritoneoscopic findings and liver function in chronic liver disease.

In 100 cases with chronic liver disease, peritoneoscopy and liver biopsy were performed, and the association between peritoneoscopic findings and liver function was studied. With respect to liver function, a series of tests which seem to indicate residual liver function were selected as follows; dye excretion, serum levels of albumin and cholinesterase, and subfractions of serum proteins. In evaluating the periotoneoscopic view, new criteria for the classification of liver surface findings are proposed. All cases were divided into 5 types in accordance with these criteria. Analysis of the correlation between peritoneoscopic findings and liver function showed that the degree of liver dysfunction was clearly indicated by liver surface alterations. As a result, the residual liver function may be determined quite well by using this classification.