Breath analysis of bile acid deconjugation in intestinal obstruction

Abstract

Bile acid deconjugation was measured by expired --CO- after oral administration of glycine-l---C-cholic acid to seventeen cases of intestinal obstruction.
They were fifteen mechanical and two paralytic ileus.
Among fifteen mechanical ileus, nine cases were operated and six cases were improved by the conservative treatment.
Cumulative specific activity of --CO- for 6 hours before the treatment was 40.20±11.03 (SEM) (control 2.96±1.16) and was decreased to 6.86±3.64 after the treatment.
Enteric bacteria, splitting amino radicles of the bile acid, were identified in the obstructed bowel more than 10-/ml.
Cumulative specific activity of --CO- for 6 hours in two paralytic ileus was lower than the control value.
Deconjugated bile acid was reported to inhibit water and electrolytes absorption in the small intestine and would play important role in fluid retention in intestinal obstruction.