Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction
Published on: March 25, 2022
Analysis of different ways of drainage for obstructive jaundice caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma
Chuan Xu1, Peng-Hua Lv, Xin-En Huang
1Department of Interventional Radiology, Subei People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province, Clinical Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Insights
Percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) offers better prognosis than percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage (PTCD) for obstructive jaundice in hilar cholangiocarcinoma patients. PTBS significantly prolonged survival time compared to PTCD.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary surgery
- Interventional radiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Hilar cholangiocarcinoma causes obstructive jaundice, requiring effective biliary drainage.
- Percutaneous transhepatic biliary interventions are crucial for managing such cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prognostic outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage (PTCD) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) in patients with obstructive jaundice due to hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 89 patients undergoing PTCD or PTBS between January 2006 and March 2012.
- Drainage method selection was based on guidewire passage, infection status, and pre-procedure cholangiography.
- Outcomes evaluated included liver function markers (ALT), recurrence of obstruction, and patient survival.
Main Results:
- Both PTCD and PTBS demonstrated significant improvements in bilirubin and ALT levels.
- The average survival time was notably longer for PTBS (243 days) compared to PTCD (161 days).
Conclusions:
- Both PTCD and PTBS are effective in improving liver function for obstructive jaundice caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
- PTBS is superior to PTCD in terms of prolonging patient survival.
Objective:
To evaluate the prognosis of different ways of drainage for patients with obstructive jaundice caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Materials And Methods:
During the period of January 2006- March 2012, percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage (PTCD)/ percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) were performed for 89 patients. According to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), external drainage was selected if the region of obstruction could not be passed by guide wire or a metallic stent was inserted if it could. External drainage was the first choice if infection was diagnosed before the procedure, and a metallic stent was inserted in one week after the infection was under control. Selection by new infections, the degree of bilirubin decrease, the change of ALT, the time of recurrence of obstruction, and the survival time of patients as the parameters was conducted to evaluate the methods of different interventional treatments regarding prognosis of patients with hilar obstruction caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Results:
PTCD was conducted in 6 patients and PTBS in 7 (p<0.05). Reduction of bilirubin levels and ALT levels was obvious after the procedures (p<0.05). The average survival time with PTCD was 161 days and with PTBS was 243 days (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
With both drainage procedures for obstructive jaundice caused by hilar cholangiocarcinoma improvement in liver function was obvious. PTBS was found to be better than PTCD for prolonging the patient survival.
