Discussion: This study is the first in the literature to address the histopathologic changes that occur in humans with short-term biliary obstruction. ATN and venous dilatation was observed in all biopsies, without exception, despite the maintenance of strict volume control in all patients. The adequacy of volume control may not be implicated in those results; rather a possible mechanism related to untrapped endotoxin in the gut lumen or systemic circulation might lead to prolonged peritubular capillary dilatation and hypoperfusion with synchronous acute tubular necrosis . Absolute recovery of renal function in all patients and the demonstration of solitary ATN with no microvascular-glomerular-interstitial inflammation or injury, suggests that the perioperative treatment regime in this study is fairly efficacious in short-term OJ.