[Use of transhepatic drainage in repair of the main bile duct]

The transhepatic intubation to treat and minimize recurrent stricture after hepaticojejunostomy is analysed. This method was used in seven patients. Three of them had a malignant biliary stricture and four had bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. In four occasions the reconstruction of right and left hepatic ducts were done separately. In two the anastomosis with the jejunum was performed with the left hepatic duct and ducts of medial and lateral segments of right hepatic lobe and in two hepaticojejunostomy was performed. The transhepatic tube was maintained for three to ten months. The patients with malignant disease died after ten days, 35 days and nine months. In the four patients with benign disease, two had an excellent response. One did not and in one the follow up is short to assess the final result. The advantages and disadvantages of transhepatic intubation are discussed.