A novel technique for hepaticojejunostomy for nondilated bile ducts: a purse-string anastomosis with an intra-anastomotic biodegradable biliary stent

In non-dilated bile ducts, performing a well-functioning hepaticojejunal anastomosis (HJ) may be challenging. We investigated a novel technique for small-caliber HJ: a purse-string anastomosis with an intra-anastomotic biodegradable stent. HJ was performed randomly either conventionally with interrupted sutures without any stent (n = 5; conventional) or using the novel purse-string technique with a 4-mm caliber polylactide-barium sulfate biodegradable biliary stent (n = 4; pursestring + stent) in minipigs with bile ducts 3.5–4.0 mm in caliber. The anastomosis creation time was not different in the groups. In the conventional group 2 complications occurred: 1 early anastomotic leakage, and 1 late anastomotic stricture. The remaining animals (3/5 in conventional, and 4/4 in purse-string + stent group) had normal liver histology and function, and developed no signs of complications during the 6-month follow-up. All biodegradable stents disappeared by 3 months. At 6 months, the HJ caliber was smaller in the conventional (5 [1–9] mm) than in the purse-string + stent group (12 [4–15] mm; P < .05). We conclude that this novel HJ technique is easy and safe to perform, and ensures a well-functioning anastomosis in nondilated bile ducts.