Partial replacement of urinary bladder by autologous gallbladder.

In an effort to find a more suitable method of partial urinary bladder replacement for those patients with either a damaged or contracted bladder, the use of the autologous gallbladder was studied. The urinary bladders of 6 female dogs were partially resected, and the defective portions were replaced by autologous gallbladder transplants. After six weeks, the gallbladder mucosa showed evidence of squamous cell metaplasia progressing toward transitional cell epithelium with minimal necrosis. The muscular layer showed extensive granulation tissue and revascularization. No changes were detected in the upper urinary tracts. No mortality or detectable morbidity was associated with the procedure. It appears that the gallbladder may have a role to play in partial urinary bladder replacement.