[Mechanical jaundice in extrahepatic portal hypertension]

The authors consider the tactics of the treatment of mechanical jaundice in 9 patients suffering from an extrahepatic form of portal hypertension. The analysis of the results of the treatment proved that in case of pronounced bilirubinemia with colangitis manifestations and hepatic insufficiency it is indicated to use external controlled drainage of the thoracic lymphatic duct and transhepatic external drainage of the intrahepatic duct. The applied tactics allows to avoid carrying out emergent surgical interventions on extrahepatic bile passages, which is extremely dangerous, and to perform such operations when necessary only, under more favourable conditions after an adequate preparation of patients.