The influence of ischaemia on the biliary tract.

Damage of the biliary tract at the end of a period of hepatic preservation prior to liver transplantation has been observed in man. This damage may be important in the development of early biliary complications. A model of hepatic biliary ischaemia in the pig has been developed which permits comparison between the influences of warm and cold ischaemic damage on the biliary tract. The major damage to the biliary tract in the pig in this model appears to occur after prolonged cold preservation.