[The value of serum endotoxin determination after gastrointestinal interventions]

Serumendotoxins were measured in 11 patients after gut surgery and compared with healthy people as a standard. In cases of uncomplicated course 3 to 4-fold raised serumendotoxin levels were observed in a typical two-peak pattern. It was not before the fifth day following operation that serum levels declined constantly. In contrast to these findings, patients suffering from septic complications showed a permanently raised endotoxin level, which correlated well with their clinical course. Therefore single peaks of serumendotoxin measured after operation should not be overvalued. Constantly raised levels following operation, however, may indicate some kind of septic complication.