Related Experiment Videos
Percutaneous transhepatic drainage in obstructive jaundice: advantages and problems
The British Journal of Surgery
|May 1, 1982
Summary
Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice showed improved bilirubin levels but carried significant infection risks and mortality. Further controlled studies are needed before widespread adoption.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Obstructive jaundice presents a significant clinical challenge.
- Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is a potential treatment option.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the outcomes and hazards of PTBD in patients with obstructive jaundice.
Main Methods:
- Prospective assessment of 37 patients with obstructive jaundice undergoing PTBD.
- Evaluation of drainage duration, clinical parameters, and complications.
Main Results:
- Successful bilirubin and creatinine clearance observed during drainage (median 18 days).
- Significant complications included infection (rising incidence during drainage), intrahepatic abscesses, and two infection-related deaths.
- Early laparotomy was required in 3 patients; 8 of 33 patients undergoing definitive surgery died before hospital discharge.
Conclusions:
- While PTBD can achieve biliary decompression, it carries substantial, often underemphasized, hazards, particularly infection.
- A staged approach may be beneficial for severely ill patients, but PTBD's role as an initial treatment requires further controlled evaluation.