[Catheter tract embolization after percutaneous transhepatic biliary intervention].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the feasibility and efficacy of an embolization technique of the transhepatic tract after intervention, in order to prevent peritoneal bile leakage.


METHODS
Twenty patients (mean age 62 yr) with malignant (17 cases) or benign (three cases) biliary obstruction were treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary intervention (stent implantation in 17 cases). Mean diameter of the transhepatic tract was 3.2 +/- 0.6 mm. Tract embolization was performed 3.0 +/- 4.0 days after intervention by injecting Histoacryl-Lipiodol via a coaxial catheter-sheath system.


RESULTS
Tract embolization was feasible in all cases and resulted in a continuous cast of the catheter tract. There were no signs or symptoms of peritonitis in any of the patients. One patient with stent occlusion developed a biliocutaneous fistula via the former tract after 60 days.


CONCLUSIONS
After embolization of fresh transhepatic tracts there were no signs of leakage during follow-up of the patients. One case with biliocutaneous fistula shows that prevention of leakage is not permanent if biliary reobstruction occurs.
Schmitz-Rode
T
T
Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Universitätsklinikum, RWTH Aachen. smiro@rad.rwth-aachen.de
Blaum
M
M
Hübner
D
D
Günther
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents