An Indirect Method for Detecting Increases in the Biliary Pressure

Abstract

Cholecystectomized patients and subjects with intact gall bladders were given 20 mg BSP per kg body weight in a single intravenous injection. The blood disappearance curve was followed for two hours. The plasma BSP concentration plotted against time on a semilogarithmic scale showed two different phases: the initial, rapid phase lasted for 20—25 minutes and was followed by a slower elimination. On administration of morphine in cholecystectomized patients the initial, rapid BSP elimination phase was unchanged, whereas the second elimination phase could be completely inhibited. It is assumed that this BSP stasis is caused by increased biliary pressure due to morphine-induced contraction of the sphincter of Oddi. The method can be used for qualitative studies of the effects of various drugs on the sphincter of Oddi.