RESUMO
Transduodenal diathermic sphincterotomy was performed in nine pigs of the large White breed, weighing 70-80 kg. The Erbotom T 400 diathermy unit equipped with a needle knife was used to incise the duodenal papilla and its sphincter. The animals were divided into three groups and the results of the operation were estimated 2, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. After the respective survival period was over, the animals were examined post mortem to macroscopically inspect the surgery site and take samples for histopathological and histochemical investigations. Histopathological preparations were stained with haematoxylin and eosin as well as by Hale-Müller's or Frankel's methods. Histochemical investigations were performed to determine the activity of three enzymes: alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and succinate dehydrogenase. The present study has revealed that diathermic incision of the duodenal papilla and its sphincter gives very good results as confirmed by the findings of macroscopic as well as histopathological and histochemical investigations.