Biliary Obstruction After Short-Time Choledochal Clamping in Rats

Abstract

IntroductionBiliary complications after liver procedures can lead to morbidity and poor survival. AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic function after quick clamping of the common bile duct (BD) in Wistar rats. MethodsTwelve male Wistar rats with a mean weight of 323.14 g were anesthetized with sodium thiopental intravenous (IV). The common BD Clamping Group (BDCG; n = 6) was submitted to an abdominal incision (2 cm); the BD was isolated, dissected, and underwent clamping for 10 minutes with a microvascular clamp. After this time, the clamp was removed and the incision closed. The Sham Operation Group (SOG; n = 6 rats), under normal conditions, were subjected only to anesthesia and laparotomy and later control tests. On the 28th day liver and choledoch biopsy and biochemical tests were performed on all animals: total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-P), aminotransferases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). After the tests all the rats were humanely killed while still under anesthesia. ResultsIn this study 83% of the animals in the BDCG had large dilatation of the common BD with ductular proliferation, formation of septae, as well as multiple foci of parenchymal necrosis including micro-abscess formation. We also observed alterations in biochemical tests (P < .05). ConclusionOur study demonstrated that BD clamping even for a short time was sufficient to generate important morphological alterations in the liver and BD, as confirmed by enzymatic and histological analysis. Therefore, this technique can be used as a model of biliary obstruction for future studies.