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Optimized biliary drain

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Develop a biliary drain to prevent retrograde intestinal flow

Project Overview

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is an essential treatment for patients suffering from a blockage of bile flow from the liver to the small intestine who do not qualify for an internal biliary stent. This can be due to various reasons, including gastric anatomy, blockage severity, and blockage location, but it is estimated that 24.7% of patients requiring biliary intervention undergo this procedure. A drain is inserted through the wall of the abdomen into a hepatic duct, and its terminus rests in the small intestine. This allows for bile to continue draining into the duodenum, while the excess flows out of the abdomen into an external pouch. Typically, drains are exchanged every 2-3 months, but complications are common and can require additional intervention. These complications begin to arise when drainage is blocked, and a recent paper presents evidence to suggest this may be due to reflux in the small intestine. This demonstrates the need for a biliary drain design that prevents retrograde flow from the small intestine, while preserving its clinical effectiveness.

Team Picture

Team photo: (left to right) Sam Litzau, John Dolan, Hank Hegeman, Mariah Smeeding, Luke Blaska
Team photo: (left to right) Sam Litzau, John Dolan, Hank Hegeman, Mariah Smeeding, Luke Blaska

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Team Members

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