[BILIARY DECOMPRESSION ASSOCIATED WITH TUMOURS OF PROXIMAL BILE DUCTS]

The treatment of tumours of proximal hepatic ducts (Klatskin tumours) remains a serious challenge because most patients are referred to the clinic at later stages of the disease. Its most common symptom is obstructive jaundice syndrome. Various methods of bile tract decompression have been proposed to resolve manifestations of this syndrome in the course of preoperative preparation for surgery of potentially resectable tumours and palliative treatment of incurable neoplasms. However analysis of the literature shows that the choice of an adequate method for the purpose remains a matter of debate.