title: External metallic circle in microsurgical anastomosis of common bile duct.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biliary stricture development is one of the most serious problems following biliary tract surgery. Here, we present a new technique for biliary tract reconstruction with an external metallic circle, and the results of this new technique in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 to 300 g) were divided into two groups. After transection of the bile duct, standard bile duct reconstruction (without the metallic circle) was performed in group 1 and reconstruction with the external metallic (silver) circle was performed in group 2. At the end of the fourth month, clinical, laboratory biochemical, and histopathologic parameters were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and operation time were higher in group 1 than in group 2. Differences were statistically significant. In histopathologic examination, biliary duct stricture was seen in group 1. Foreign body reaction and fibrosis in the bile duct wall were seen in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An external metallic circle prevents development of biliary stricture after primary end-to-end bile duct anastomosis in this rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. mtez@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keskek
authors.lastname: Ozkan O
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karamursel
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley