Preoperative liver function tests correlated with encephalopathy after porta-caval anastomosis.
In 31 patients with cirrhosis of the liver undergoing porta-caval shunt surgery, the prognostic value of some liver function tests was studied. The surgical mortality was not correlated with the test results. Serum concentrations of bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin were not correlated with postoperative encephalopathy, but the mutually correlated preoperative galactose elimination capacity and age of patients were correlated with encephalopathy development. Incapacitating encephalopathy mainly occurred in patients above 60 years of age, and when the galactose elimination capacity was at or less  than an arbitrary limit of 225 mg/min. The liver function decreased significantly following operation.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
D012709:Serum Albumin; D001663:Bilirubin; D005690:Galactose