[Replacement of the choledochus with autologous vascularized gallbladder]

Multiple experiments to replace the extrahepatic bile duct by autologous or homologous and alloplasty failed until now. The possibility to employ autologous gall bladder as replacement for the common bile duct has been examined in animal experiments. With the supposition of primary vascularization and the adaptation of the luminal proportion of the transplant to the common bile duct, it could be demonstrated that a flapped, tubular gall bladder interposition kept its epithelium and, by this way, showed no shrinkage or stenosis. The functionaal performance of this method has been confirmed by clinical, laboratory, radiological, and bacteriological, as well as micro- and macropathological experiments.