[Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography with the Okuda or Chiba needle (author's transl)]

Introduction of the thin flexible needle (Chiba or Okuda needle) has revived percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, even though there are more recent methods of investigating the biliary tract. Personal results in 65 patients demonstrate that the needle can be successfully introduced in all instances, as long as the biliary tracts are dilated, the success rate being 68% if they are not. The complication rate was 9.2%, but there was no death.