• To our knowledge, the relationship between gallbladder volume and cystic duct function
has not been studied. We hypothesized that changes in gallbladder volume would influence
cystic duct resistance. The effect of gallbladder volume changes on cystic duct resistance to
both prograde (emptying) and retrograde (filling) steady-state flow was tested in 12 dogs
under basal cholecystokinin-stimulated conditions utilizing a multiport catheter with a highly
compliant balloon placed within the gallbladder fundus. Gallbladder volume was regulated …