Absorbable bioprosthesis for the treatment of bile duct injury in an experimental model.

INTRODUCTION: Cholecystectomy is a common surgical procedure in which complications may occur, such as injury to the biliary tract, which are associated with high morbidity. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of a polymer-based absorbable bioprosthesis with bone scaffold for the treatment of bile duct injury in an animal model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An absorbable bioprosthesis was used to replace the common bile duct in 15 pigs which were divided into 3 groups with different follow-ups at 1, 3 and 6 months. The animals were anesthetized at these time points and laboratory tests, Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatogram [MRCP], Choledochoscopy using Spyglass and Endoscopic retrograde Cholangiopancreatogram [ERCP] were performed. After radiological evaluation was complete, the animals were euthanized and histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Liver function tests at different time points demonstrated no significant changes. No mortality or postoperative complications were found in any of the experimental models. Imaging studies ([MRCP], [ERCP] and Choledochoscopy with SpyGlass(™)) showed absence of stenosis or obstruction in all the experimental models.

DISCUSSION: Histological and immunohistochemical staining (CK19 and MUC5+) revealed the presence of biliary epithelium with intramural biliary glands in all the experimental models. There was no stenosis or obstruction in the bile duct.

CONCLUSIONS: The bioprosthesis served as scaffolding for tissue regeneration. There was no postoperative complication at 6 months follow-up. This bioprosthesis could be used to replace the bile duct in cancer or bile duct injury. The bioprosthesis may allow different modeling depending on the type of bile duct injury.