Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholangiography and cholangiodrainage (CEUS-PTCD)

We present our experience with contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage in eight patients with obstructive jaundice and failure of conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. The intraductal application of the ultrasound contrast agent led to sufficient cholangiography in all patients. In one patient, after accidental dislocation of the bile duct drain, the leakage could be detected by demonstration of the passage of contrast agent into the perihepatic peritoneal space. Further studies are necessary to evaluate this new technique in a larger numbers of patients.