PRIMARY COMMON BILE-DUCT ANASTOMOSIS IN THE RAT USING MICROSURGICAL TECHNIQUES

In a rat model, we attempted to describe the natural healing course of the common bile duct (CBD) after primary microsurgical repair. Fifty- three rats were divided into experimental groups with CBD microsurgica l anastomoses and control groups with CBD mobilization and ligation. E xamination of three experimental groups at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 mont hs showed evolving inflammation and stricture changes with eventual pa tent, healed ducts in 92% of animals at the end of 3 months following transection and repair. There were no histologic abnormalities in the livers. There were fibrotic ducts and hepatic stasis and cirrhosis cha nges in the control group with CBD ligation. This study demonstrates t hat microsurgical techniques can achieve successful primary biliary re pair in the rat. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.