An animal model for radiologic biliary interventional procedures.

Procedural development, in vivo evaluation, and professional training in interventional biliary radiology require an animal model that provides easy and safe access to the gallbladder and bile ducts. A porcine model was used successfully for catheterization of the biliary system under fluoroscopic control. Permanent access to the gallbladder of ten pigs was achieved with a large-bore cholecystostomy catheter. Catheterization of the common bile duct through the cystic duct was feasible in all animals. Repeated interventional radiologic procedures were performed with intramuscular sedation of the animals, which made this model particularly useful for studies requiring multiple procedures or serial follow-up over several weeks. This article describes the technical aspects of the animal model and the radiographic anatomy of the extrahepatic biliary system in 27 domestic pigs.