Bile acid deconjugation in intestinal obstruction studied by breath test

Bile acid deconjugation was assessed by measuring specific activity of expired 14CO2 after the oral administration of cholyl-glycine-1-14C in 17 cases of intestinal obstruction, i.e. 15 mechanical and two paralytic. In the former, nine cases were operated and the remaining six cases were managed by the conservative treatment. Cumulative output of 14CO2 in breath for six hours before the treatment was 40.20=11.30 (mean+/-SEM) (control 2.96+/-1.16) but decreased to 6.86+/-3.64 after the treatment. Enteric bacteria capable of splitting amino moiety of the conjugated bile acid were found to be present more than 10(5)/ml. in the obstructed bowel content. Cumulative output of 14CO2 in breath for six hours in two paralytic ileus was lower than in controls. Deconjugated bile acid reported to inhibited water and electrolytes absorption in the small intestine may play an important role in fluid retention in intestinal obstruction.