OBJECTIVE Reversible obstructive jaundice models have some limiting features, including the need for a second anaesthesia, re-laparotomy and surgical intervention after common bile duct ligation. The present study investigates the feasibility of a new application that can eliminate these limitations. Rapidly absorbable suture materials were used for ligation; therefore, spontaneous biliary decompression was anticipated by the self release of these rapidly degrading materials. METHODS Common bile ducts in Wistar Albino rats were ligated with silk, polyglytone 6211, or irradiated polyglactine 910 (n=7 for each group). Rats were grouped according to both the suture materials and the experiments termination date: 5 days (sham, silk5, polyglytone5, polyglactine5) and 21 days (silk21, polyglytone21, polyglactine21) after the ligation. Biochemical and morphologic changes of liver were assessed. RESULTS The group polyglactine21 showed significantly lower mean ALT, AST, GGT, total and direct bilirubin values when compared with the group polyglactine5 (p=0.004-0.037). Morphologic changes did not correlate with the biochemical amelioration. In the group polyglytone21, not only the biochemical but also the morphologic changes significantly ameliorated when compared with the group polyglytone5 (p=0.003-0.043). No procedure associated mortality was observed. CONCLUSIONS Common bile duct ligation with polyglytone offers a new reversible model for prolonged obstructive jaundice which abolishes the need for relaparotomy and a second surgical intervention and significantly reduces mortality.