Changes in liver function after different types of surgery

Liver function tests carried out after minor surgical procedures, under anaesthesia lasting for 1 hr, showed no abnormalities. Tests after body surface operations under the same anaesthetic techniques showed transient derangements. After intra-abdominal procedures, liver dysfunction was more marked, although no patients with evidence of preoperative liver dysfunction or postoperative surgical complications were studied and none received blood transfusions. Measurements of the serum bilirubin concentration showed the most frequent abnormalities, but the pseudocholinesterase concentration decreased progressively after intra-abdominal surgery and b.s.p. retention increased significantly. Serum concentration of intracellular enzymes (LDH, s.g.o.t. and s.g.p.t.) increased within an hour of starting surgery, changes which were probably not related to liver function.