The effect of prosthetic gallstones on total bile acid pool size in dogs.

A reduction in total bile acid pool size was noted in nine of ten dogs after the implantation of inert prosthetic gallstones. Sham cholecystotomy without implantation of a prosthesis also produced a small decrease in bile acid pool size but was significantly less than the decrease noted with prosthetic stones. Bile acid ratios--cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid--did not change after implantation of prosthetic stones. These findings raise the possibility that the small total bile acid pool size noted in patients with cholesterol gallstones is a phenomenon secondary to the pathologic state of the gallbladder.