An experimental model for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.

The development of an effective and reliable technique for laparoscopic common bile duct exploration has been limited by the technical difficulty of the procedure and the lack of a suitable animal model with a bile duct diameter large enough to accommodate the fiberoptic choledochoscope and other instruments used for stone extraction. Short-term bile duct ligation in the dog provides a simple and reproducible animal model that enables the surgeon to gain experience with laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in a laboratory setting. This model will enable the surgeon to develop the technical skills necessary to perform laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. In addition, the model may facilitate the development and refinement of new techniques and instruments that will facilitate laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in the clinical setting.