Immune dysfunction in patients with obstructive jaundice, mediators and implications for treatments.

Patients with obstructive jaundice have an increased perioperative complication rate. Sepsis, bleeding, wound problems, renal and liver malfunction are all seen in these patients. Assessment of immune function has been an active research area in these patients. This review will examine various aspects of immune functions in obstructive jaundice, discuss the recent research results and controversies and then go on to discuss the relevant mediators of immune function and some possible implications for treatment.