Jaundice following cardiopulmonary bypass.

Serial liver function tests were performed in 29 adult patients following cardiopulmonary bypass for various open-heart procedures. In 22 patients there was a rise in serum bilirubin above 1·5 mg./100 ml., with clinical jaundice in 19 and bilirubinuria in 15 patients. The incidence of jaundice was related to age, the severity of pre-operative cardiac failure, and the duration of perfusion. Possible mechanisms for jaundice are discussed, and evidence is presented that liver damage may follow extracorporeal circulation.