Sonographic-Guided Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage aia Peripheral Access: Evaluation of Safety and Technical Efficacy

Abstract

Biliary drainage is an important technique for decompression in biliary obstruction, regardless of what causes of obstruction. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is the first choice for the interventional radiological procedure for treatment of obstructive jaundice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage via peripheral access under sonographic guidance for treatment of obstructive jaundice. We retrospectively reviewed 61 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedures in 58 patients with obstructive jaundice over a 2 year period. All patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage under sonographic guidance. The efficacy of this technique was defined as inserted drainage tube enabling adequate bile drainage and decreased the value of bilirubin. Fifty seven patients (98.3%) had successful percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage under sonographic guidance via peripheral access. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedure was successfully achieved in 45 (97.8%) procedures via right lobe liver approach and 15 (100%) procedures via left lobe liver approach. The mean number of puncture per patient was 3.50 (range, 1–10). The value of total bilirubin of all patients was decreased within three days after procedure. There were four minor complications (6.6%, 4/61) without further treatment. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage via peripheral access under sonographic guidance is a safe and effective treatment of patients with obstructive jaundice.