Effects of different drainage procedures on levels of serum endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice.

Objective: To assess the influence of different drainage procedures on the levels of serum endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ).

Methods: The levels of endotoxin and TNF in 46 patients with MOJ were measured before and after cholangiojejunostomy (CJ) or external bile drainage (EBD).

Results: In the CJ group, the levels of postoperative serum endotoxin and TNF 10 days after operation were significantly lower than those before operation (P<0.