Intestinal failure in obstructive jaundice

摘要

We read with great interest the article by Ding LA and Li JS, which aimed to review the current knowledge on the physiology of normal intestinal barrier function and highlight the role of intestinal failure after various injurious insults in the development of septic complications or multiple organ failure with subsequent rapid clinical deterioration or even death. Nowadays it is accepted that the gastrointestinal tract is not only a passive organ of nutrient absorption, but it additionally displays important endocrine, immunologic, metabolic and barrier functions. Therefore, the authors very precisely and in accordance with the description of the functional failure of heart, lungs, brain and kidneys, use the term "intestinal failure", instead of gastrointestinal dysfunction, when there is a disorder of the complex barrier function, emphasizing concurrently on the equal importance of gastrointestinal tract as other vital organs during the course of diseases. In the mentioned article, the authors aiming at attracting recognition and valuable comments by clinicians refer to numerous common diseases, which may be complicated by intestinal failure. We would like to comment on the absence of reference on obstructive jaundice, a common clinical entity, which is often complicated by septic events and renal failure, associated with the presence of systemic endotoxemia because of intestinal barrier failure.