A method to prevent recanalization of the transected bile duct in the rat

The purpose of this study was to develop a surgical technique for bile duct occlusion in the rat which would prevent restoration of biliary drainage. In three successive series of animals the surgical technique was modified from ligation and transection to ligation and transection with resection and, finally, to ligation and transection with transposition of the distal end behind the stomach-duodenum. In these three groups recanalization was observed in 4 out of 9, 1 out of 9, and 0 out of 19 animals, respectively. Bilirubin levels in plasma monitored in the last group showed that a stable cholestatic jaundice was maintained for at least 6 weeks. The results suggest that transposition of the distal transected end of the bile duct below the stomach-duodenum will effectively reduce the chance of recanalization and thus make study of long-term extrahepatic cholestasis in the rat more practical.