Radiological management of obstructive jaundice.
Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTHBD) is a new interventional radiologic procedure that can be applied in the management of malignant or benign biliary obstruction. PTHBD can be (1) retrograde, whereby bile is drained externally through a catheter and collected in a bag; (2) antegrade, whereby the obstructing lesion, usually a carcinoma of the pancreas, is bypassed with a catheter and bile is drained internally into the duodenum; or (3) a combination of both. PTHBD may be a definitive palliative procedure or a preoperative biliary decompressive modality when subsequent surgery or radiation therapy is planned. The experience at Howard University Hospital with this modality is reviewed; its indications, contraindications, and complications are discussed; and a limited review of the literature is offered. With the increasing incidence of pancreatic carcinoma in our patient population, PTHBD is bound to play an increasing role.
D000368:Aged; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; D002404:Catheterization; D002758:Cholangiography; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged