Use of bacterial cellulose film for repair of bile duct injury in pigs

Abstract

Background/objective

The aim was to evaluate the use of bacterial cellulose film and bile duct autograft in repairing critical common bile duct injury in pigs.

Methods

A prospective experimental analytical study was carried out on 20 Sus Domesticus, Piau suidae swine, divided into a control group (n = 10) and an experimental group (n = 10) divided into two subgroups: bacterial cellulose film E1 and bacterial cellulose film E2 to which bacterial cellulose film was randomly allocated. The control group underwent two complete critical common bile duct sections 10 mm apart, while the experimental group with a single critical common bile duct defect underwent a 10 mm section of the longitudinal shaft with edge resection. The defects in the control group were treated with end-to-end conventional anastomosis using polyglycolic 6–0 surgical thread and the experimental group with bacterial cellulose film by continuous suture using the same material. The animals were clinically evaluated throughout the experiment on days D150 (bacterial cellulose film E1), D225 (control group), and D330 (bacterial cellulose film E2) and by intraoperative ultrasound examination related to histopathological and biochemical findings.

Results

The intraoperative ultrasonography detected the changes resulting from the common bile duct anastomosis in the control group that produced a considerable incidence of ductal narrowing and obstruction to the biliary flow. In the bacterial cellulose film E2 group, there was an increase in inflammation intensity, granulomatous reaction, fibrosis, and vessels density, without producing bile duct dilation in the ultrasonography assessment. Biochemical analysis of liver enzymes yielded results in the normal range confirming preservation of liver function at the different post-surgery time points.

Conclusion

Bacterial cellulose film, when used as a graft for bile duct repair, proved to be a biocompatible material that produced a complete healing process and biliary flow continuity.