Objective To investigate the pathological characteristics of hepatic energy metabolism changes following hepatic inflow occlusion and the tolerant limit to ischemia in cholestatic rats.Methods On the day 7 after rats biliary obstruction, the survival rate, hepatic mitochondrial respiratory function, content of ATP, and the ketone body ratio in arterial blood were investigated following the different duration of hepatic ischemia and reperfusion with portal blood bypass.Results The survival rate on postoperative day 10 was 100%, 100% and 40% subjected to 30, 60 and 90min of hepatic vascular occlusion. The hepatic energy metabolic function was decreased markedly following ischemia, and was increased markedly on 24 hours following reperfusion subjected to 30, 60min of hepatic vascular occlusion, but it had less increase with 90min of hepatic vascular occlusion.Conclusion The hepatic energy metabolic function injury is reversible in cholestatic rats, and the rats can tolerate hepatic inflow occlusion within 60min, but the hepatic energy metabolic function injury is irreversible after 90min of hepatic occlusion.