Biliary pharmacokinetics of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid

The biliary excretion of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid was studied in 26 patients who required elective biliary surgery. In patients with normal hepatic function or unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia the mean concentrations of ticarcillin in bile from common bile ducts and functioning gall bladders exceeded the mean concentration in plasma and bile from gall bladders with poor or absent function. Concentrations of ticarcillin in the walls of gall bladders were comparable regardless of function. In patients with obstructive jaundice, concentrations of ticarcillin in bile and the wall of gall bladders were lower than the concentrations in plasma. In all patients the mean concentrations of clavulanic acid in the biliary samples were invariably lower than the mean concentration in plasma.