Background: Previous studies have shown cardiac abnormalities in acute liver injury, suggesting a potential role in the associated high mortality.
Methods: We designed an experimental study exploring the short-term effects of acute cholestasis-induced liver injury on cardiac function and structure in a rodent bile duct ligation (BDL) model to elucidate the potential interplay. Thirty-seven male rats were subjected to BDL surgery ( = 28) or served as sham-operated ( = 9) controls.