Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in patients with malignant biliary obstruction of the hepatic confluence

Despite many studies on percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), there are no satisfactory reports of PTBD for malignant obstruction of the hepatic confluence. In this study, the results of PTBD using the direct anterior approach under fluoroscopic guidance are described in 16 patients with malignant biliary obstruction of the hepatic confluence. A total of forty-two drainage catheters were placed in the 16 patients: one catheter was placed in three patients; two catheters in six; three catheters in four; four catheters in two; seven catheters in one. PTBD was successful in 100% of the cases with no mortality or critical complications, and the biliary decompression effect of PTBD was highly satisfactory. Nine patients underwent histologically curative hepatectomies. Two of the nine resected cases died of postoperative hepatic failure, but the postoperative course in the others was satisfactory. The authors stress that selective biliary drainage for each isolated segmental duct is mandatory for advanced malignant obstruction of the hepatic confluence.