CRP and Increased total leukocyte count: Although patients with high leukocyte concentrations did not show significantly elevated serum bilirubin concentration as a sign of obstructive cholestasis, concomitant elevation of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase, as well as C-reactive protein levels, was detected in most patients with preoperative leukocytosis prompting the assumption of underlying cholangitis as reason for our observations.