[Transvenous cholangiography in the differential diagnosis of biliary stasis (author's transl)]

Transvenous cholangiography is an alternative to the direct puncture of the biliary tract. It was successfully performed in 13 of 21 patients of a personal series. The method does not require stand-by facilities for operation and is suitable for differentiating intra- from extrahepatic causes of biliary stasis, as well as for the demonstration of cause and localization of obstructive jaundice. Subcapsular liver haematoma with a rupture into the peritoneal cavity and bilihaemia were the main complications (one case of the former). The procedure is contraindicated in acute cholangitis and after cholangitic episodes.