Jaundice and the effect of sodium taurocholate taken orally upon abdominal wound healing.

The effect of oral sodium taurocholate upon abdominal wound healing was assessed in an experimental study using rats. Bile duct ligation produced a significant reduction in wound bursting strength four and six days postoperatively compared with control rats, and sodium taurocholate in bile duct ligated rats resulted in a significant increase in wound strength six days postoperatively. There was no change in wound hydroxyproline concentrations between rats in the bile duct ligated and control groups. In the clinical situation, oral bile salts may be of value in the preoperative management of patients with obstructive jaundice.