Increase in bile secretion after water ingestion in cholecystectomised patients.

The effect of water ingestion on bile secretion was investigated in nine cholecystectomised patients with T-tube biliary drainage. The effect of ingestion of a standard meal on bile secretion was also studied in these patients. Water ingestion produced a significant increase in bile secretion compared with fasting levels. This increase in bile secretion was comparable to that produced by a standard meal. Ingestion of water or meal did not produce any significant change in bile osmolality or sodium and potassium concentrations of bile.