may be challenging. We investigated a novel technique for small-caliber HJ: a purse-string
anastomosis with an intra-anastomotic biodegradable stent. HJ was performed randomly
either conventionally with interrupted sutures without any stent (n= 5; conventional) or using
the novel purse-string technique with a 4-mm caliber polylactide-barium sulfate
biodegradable biliary stent (n= 4; pursestring+ stent) in minipigs with bile ducts 3.5–4.0 mm …