[Pathogenesis of jaundice in acute cholecystitis].

An investigation of specific course of the disease in 911 patients operated upon for acute cholecystitis with bilirubinemia has shown that mechanical jaundice resulting from choledocholithiasis takes place in a third of the patients. Obstruction of the bile duct was confirmed in 27.1% of the patients during cholangiography. Prevalence of a number of factors was noted indicating of a toxic lesion of the liver (destructive forms of acute cholecystitis in 81.0% of the patients, higher level of bilirubinemia in long terms of the disease, the presence of coexistent pancreatitis in 30.5%, cholangitis--in 39.3%). An investigation of 207 bioptates of the liver in acute cholecystitis has revealed fatty degeneration of hepatocytes in 56.5%, pericholangitis--in 43.0%, cholestasis--in 21.3% of the cases. The cause of jaundice in acute cholecystitis mainly is an alteration of the hepatic cells due to pyo-resorptive intoxication manifested as cholestasis and hepatitis.