A balloon-occludable T-tube for cholangiography and quantitative collection and reinfusion of bile in man

Addition of a reinfusion lumen to the balloon-occludable Baldwin T-tube enabled maintenance of the enterohepatic circulation in man during quantitative collection of bile. This modified Baldwin T-tube was used without adverse sequelae in 4 patients, and has obviated the use of a nasointestinal tube for reinfusion of bile. Injection of sodium diatrizoate demonstrated the competence of bile duct occlusion by the distended balloon and yielded excellent radiographs of the proximal and distal biliary tree. This technique assures postoperative visualization of the proximal biliary tree that cannot always be accomplished by standard T-tube cholangiography.