Sphincter of Oddi and filling of the gallbladder. A necropsy study.

The importance of the sphincter of Oddi for the filling of the gallbladder has not been definitely established. It was the aim of this study to establish the extent to which gallbladder filling is affected by the total absence of resistance at the sphincter of Oddi. The external bile ducts were dissected out in 20 autopsies. After elimination of the sphincter of Oddi and division of the cystic duct at the junction to the gallbladder, infusion of water into the common hepatic duct under physiological flow conditions showed that no water passed the spiral valve of the cystic duct. Water flow stopped here in all 20 cases, i.e. 100% (95% confidence limits 83-100). If gallbladder filling is not possible it may be difficult to accomplish non-invasive procedures for the elimination of stones in the gallbladder.