Medhat Moustafa Abd Elgaber Hagras.
Alterations in liver function tests following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Pak J Surg Jan ;29(4):245-7.

Background: Th e pneumoperitoneum and the resulting high intraabdominal pressure may have several systemic eff ects including splanchnic ischemia. Disturbances of liver function tests following laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been previously reported although their etiology still remains uncertain. Electrocautery, general anaesthesia , and he vasoconstrictive eff ect of CO2 also causes reduced visceral blood fl ow may also have a role. Objective: Th is prospective study was planned to explore further the incidence and signifi - cance of alteration in liver function test following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Design: Prospective study. Sett ing and Duration: Janaury 2011 and december 2012 at King Abdullah hospital Bisha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Over a two-year period, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 100 consecutive patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis. Total and indirect bilirubin (TB and IB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and (GGT) were tested preoperatively as well as 24 hours following surgery. Exclusion criteria were adopted in order to eliminate any known cause of possible liver function disturbances. Results: Out of 100 patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease 14 were male and 86 were female patients. Th e mean age was 41.82 years. Th e level of serum ALT and AST increased signifi cantly within 24hours following operation, AST showed mild increase in 51% of the cases while ALT increased in26% of the cases. Total bilirubin and direct bilirubin showed a slight increase within 24 hours following operation in 7% of the patients. Alkaline phosphatase increased in 6% of the patients. GGT increased in 13% of the patient. LDH in 8%. Conclusion: In this study, it has been found that all liver function tests which include AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin showed a transeint rise in their values and in majority of cases these values went back to normal level in 48 to 72 hours following surgery.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com