[Indications and results of percutaneous transhepatic bile-duct drainage]

Percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the bile duct (PTCD) is a method that has few complications and can successfully relieve an obstructive jaundice. As a palliative drainage in malignancies of the liver and the porta of the liver it reduces the jaundice and prevents the accompanying troublesome pruritus, thus prolonging life. It reduces postoperative lethality and complications by reducing the jaundice preoperatively. Suppurative cholangitis with bile duct obstruction is quickly relieved by administration of antibiotics into the drainage.