Comparison of C-arm CT fluoroscopy and conventional fluoroscopy for percutaneous biliary drainage procedures.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a prospective randomized evaluation of C-arm computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy for external biliary drainage procedures in comparison with conventional fluoroscopic guidance to reduce the number of transhepatic punctures as a primary endpoint.


METHODS
In 18 patients with biliary obstructions, 20 external percutaneous biliary drainage procedures were prospectively performed with use of either C-arm CT fluoroscopy or conventional fluoroscopy alone. The number of hepatic punctures, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time, were analyzed separately for both methods.


RESULTS
C-arm CT fluoroscopy resulted in a reduced number of transhepatic punctures, with decreased procedure and fluoroscopy times (P < .05; t test). When compared with conventional external biliary drainage procedures, a mean of 1.8+/-1 versus 4.8+/-2.8 hepatic punctures at a fluoroscopy time of 3.4+/-1.5 versus 11.4+/-7.4 minutes was required for C-arm CT fluoroscopy, while procedure times were 11+/-3.6 versus 16.2+/-9.3 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
C-arm CT fluoroscopy is associated with decreased procedure and fluoroscopy times, while fewer transhepatic punctures are required to establish external biliary drainage.
Froelich
J J
JJ
Department of Radiology, Philipps-University Hospital, Marburg, Germany. froehlic@mailer.uni-marburg.de
Wagner
H J
HJ
Ishaque
N
N
Alfke
H
H
Scherf
C
C
Klose
K J
KJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods