Hepatic Versus Duodenal Bile

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Abstract
During nonacute operations for uncomplicated gallstone disease hepatic bile was obtained from a catheter placed in the common duct via the cystic duct. Simultaneously, duodenal bile was obtained via a duodenal tube placed as close as possible to the duodenal papilla. Fifteen patients were studied. The mean concentration of lipids of the duodenal bile was 55% of that of the hepatic bile. Comparison of the samples showed duodenal bile to contain relatively less phospholipids and more bile acids. Incubation of bile with pancreatic juice showed a gradual decrease of lecithin compensated for by an increase of lysolecithin. This degradation might facilitate absorption, and this could explain the difference found between duodenal and hepatic bile. Simple storage at -20 degrees C resulted in a loss of phospholipids in duodenal but not in hepatic bile.