Balloon catheter dilatation of stenotic common bile duct anastomoses in the pig

Fibrotic stenosing anastomoses of the common bile duct were surgically created in pigs in order to investigate the effects of percutaneous transhepatic balloon catheter dilatation. In a group of 6 animals, not treated with balloon dilatation, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and microscopic examination of the stricture were performed 5 to 25 weeks postoperatively. A persistent stenosis and slight to moderate fibrosis of the bile duct wall and peribiliary tissue were observed. In 5 animals the stenotic anastomosis was dilated 4 to 10 weeks postoperatively and this resulted in widening of the stricture and necrosis of the mucosa at the stricture site. Rupture of the fibrotic tissue in the bile duct wall and thrombus formation in the peribiliary veins also occurred in one of these 5 animals. Short-term follow-up in 3 animals 4 to 6 weeks after balloon dilatation showed almost complete fibrotic healing and partial re-stenosis of the anastomoses. (orig.)