Human amnion as a bioprosthesis for bile duct reconstruction in the pig

Despite technical advances in management, the complication of late stricture formation and biliary sepsis still occur in bile duct reconstruction. In an attempt to avoid bilioenteric anastomosis, which bypasses the biliary sphincter mechanism, various biologic and artificial materials have been employed clinically and experimentally to replace the damaged bile duct. No satisfactory biliary replacement material has yet been found. In the experimental model of bile duct stricture that has been presented, human amnion bile duct injuries mimicking those seen in clinical practice were repaired using human amnion as a free graft. Noncircumferential duct loss appeared to be satisfactorily repaired using amnion, and the amnion repair was found to be as good as or superior to plastic repair; however, circumferential duct loss was not adequately repaired with the amnion graft.