Relationship between Bilirubin Decreasing Rate "b" and Morbidity in Patients with Obstructive Jaundice

In the period from 1970 to 1985, 114 patients on whom secondarily operation for obstructive jaundice has been done were surveyed.In order to determine a good clinical indicator for predicting prognosis, we took total bilirubin level and the bilirubin decreasing rate "b". In the relationship between total bilirubin level and morbidity, no significant difference were noted in the groups of total bilirubin level below 4.9mg/dl, at 5.0-9.9mg/dl, and over 10.0mg/dl. While the rate of complication is estimated to be 25% in the good group classified by "b" value, 33.9% in the fair group and 73.5% in the poor group, respectively. Significant difference between morbidity in the good group and the poor (p<0.01), and in the fair and the poor (p<0.01) were noted. Thus we conclude that the bilirubin decreasing rate "b" is much better clinical indicator than total bilirubin level.