Feasibility of bile duct as venous graft for venous reconstruction in pancreatic surgery: An animal experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Pancreatic cancer is a kind of high malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. The aim is to determine whether the dilated bile duct can be used to reconstruct the vessels. METHODS: An animal model of jugular vein and portal vein reconstruction was established using the bile duct. A total of 20 landrace pigs were selected to undergo jugular vein reconstruction or portal vein reconstruction using the bile duct as a patch or bridge. The patency was evaluated by color Doppler, the reconstructed segments were removed and examined macroscopically and histologically at specified intervals, and the results were compared with synthetic vessels (IMPRA straight, 10s03-19). RESULTS: The lumen was patent, although a low level thrombosis was observed when jugular or portal vein patching was used. For bridging, stenosis of the lumen was observed, and necrosis appeared when the bile duct was used for bridging, indicating that it is feasible to reconstruct the jugular vein and portal vein with a bile duct patch. However, the bridge was not feasible possibly due to loss of blood supply, and consequent necrosis and fibrosis. CONCLUSION: The bile duct is technically feasible, but the outcomes are unsatisfactory.

Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion reduces bile duct reperfusion injury after transplantation of donation after circulatory death livers.

Dual hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (DHOPE) of the liver has been advocated as a method to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). This study aimed to determine whether DHOPE reduces IRI of the bile ducts in donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation. In a recently performed phase 1 trial, 10 DCD livers were preserved with DHOPE after static cold storage (SCS; www.trialregister.nl NTR4493). Bile duct biopsies were obtained at the end of SCS (before DHOPE; baseline) and after graft reperfusion in the recipient. Histological severity of biliary injury was graded according to an established semiquantitative grading system. Twenty liver transplantations using DCD livers not preserved with DHOPE served as controls. Baseline characteristics and the degree of bile duct injury at baseline (end of SCS) were similar between both groups. In controls, the degree of stroma necrosis (P = 0.002) and injury of the deep peribiliary glands (PBG; P = 0.02) increased after reperfusion compared with baseline. In contrast, in DHOPE-preserved livers, the degree of bile duct injury did not increase after reperfusion. Moreover, there was less injury of deep PBG (P = 0.04) after reperfusion in the DHOPE group compared with controls. In conclusion, this study suggests that DHOPE reduces IRI of bile ducts after DCD liver transplantation. Liver Transplantation 24 655-664 2018 AASLD.

Course of the initial epithelial lesions associated with autologous bile duct replacement. Experimental study in rats.

Mucosal lesions and healing of the common bile duct were analyzed after various chemical and surgical insults in the rat by means of histologic and scanning electron microscopic investigations. Autogenous bile duct replacement is rapidly associated within the first 72 postoperative hours with complete epithelial cell desquamation, and its precocious consequence is biliary sludge. These lesions also occurred when the bile flow was diverted; the extrinsic devascularization and denervation did not produce extensive epithelial cell loss. Heparin perfusion within the biliary tree or the induction by glycerol of epithelial cell loss before bile duct transplantation is suggested in order to avoid extensive biliary sludge after bile duct transplantation.

[Experimental reconstructive surgery of the common bile duct (author's transl)]. / Tierexperimentelle Untersuchungen zur rekonstruktiven Gallenwegschirurgie (mikrochirurgische Nahttechnik, autogene und xenogene Choledochusplastik).

In reconstructive surgery of the common bile duct the exact everting adaptation--by microsurgical suture technique--was studied in 4 male bastard dogs. This operative procedure is followed by minimal amounts of granulation tissue in region of the anastomosis. In contrast to the synthetic Teflon material the bovine heterograft (Solcograft) did not satisfy as choledochal substitute. In spite of precise suture technique the inner surface of the graft was not covered with epithelium of the biliary tract one year later.

A new technique for biliary drainage in orthotopic liver transplantation utilizing the gall bladder as a pedicle graft conduit between the donor and recipient common bile ducts.

A technique for biliary drainage in orthotopic liver transplantation has been developed in which the gall bladder is used as a pedicle graft between the donor and recipient common bile ducts. In 7 patients this technique has produced encouraging results. There has been no incidence of bile leakage or stenosis of the anastomoses. The gall bladder permits the widest possible anastomoses for obliquely cut ends of the donor and recipient common ducts. It eliminates tension and retains the advantage of the sphincter of Oddi. Although the followup is short, the incidence of biliary complications using other techniques has been so high that the procedure described here would appear to have distinct advantages.