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Updated: Aug 4, 2026
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction
Published on: March 25, 2022
US-guided left-sided biliary drainage: nine-year experience
N Hayashi1, T Sakai, M Kitagawa
1Department of Radiology, Fukui Medical School, Yoshida-gun, Japan.
Purpose:
The feasibility and safety of left-sided biliary drainage with ultrasound (US) guidance were studied prospectively.
Materials And Methods:
From July 1987 to July 1996, 208 consecutive patients underwent US-guided biliary drainage; all were evaluated for left-sided drainage. Drainage procedure was begun with puncture of the hepatic duct branch of the lateral segment of the left lobe when the branch was well visualized with US; otherwise, a right-sided approach was used. When the hepatic duct branch diameter was greater than 3 mm, puncture was performed with an 18-gauge needle; smaller branches were punctured with 21-gauge needles.
Results:
In 147 (71%) patients, the left hepatic duct branch was well visualized with US, and the branch diameter was greater than 3 mm. In these patients, left-sided drainage with use of an 18-gauge needle was successful. In 26 (12%) patients, the left hepatic duct branch diameter was less than 3 mm, and drainage was initiated with a 21-gauge needle. In six (23%) of these 26 patients, left-sided drainage was unsuccessful, but five of these patients underwent successful US-guided drainage from the right hepatic duct branch. Two patients died of septic shock within 72 hours of completed drainage. Three patients experienced severe hemobilia.
Conclusion:
US-guided left-sided biliary drainage is a highly successful and safe method when the left hepatic duct branch diameter is greater than 3 mm.
