Microbial colonization and hepatic abnormalities in jejunoileal bypass with resection, ileal mucous fistula, and ileocolostomy.

A role for bacterial colonization of the intestines in the pathogenesis of hepatic abnormalities after jejunoileal bypass was sought. Dogs were divided into groups according to the disposition of the bypassed segment; resection (group I), exteriorization as an ileal mucous fistula (group II), and drainage via an ileocolonic anastomosis (group III). Weight loss, abnormalities in liver function, and hepatic steatosis were significantly greater in groups II and III than in group I. Concomitantly, there was a significant increase in the total number of bacterial colony-forming units in groups II and III. Moreover, a greater number of specific anaerobic genera was isolated in group III than in group II. It is concluded that: (1) retention of the bypassed intestinal segment is associated with greater changes in liver function and structure than when the segment is resected; (2) the changes in the liver correlated with bacterial proliferation in the bypassed intestinal segment; and (3) despite a greater number of anaerobic genera in the ileocolostomy than in the mucous fistula, both procedures were associated with hepatic abnormalities.