title: External and internal-external biliary drainage in children with malignant obstructive jaundice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive jaundice is an uncommon but important clinical problem in children with cancer. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is widely used to relieve malignant biliary obstruction in adults, but its use in children has not been well described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients aged between 1 and 17 years underwent external or internal-external biliary drainage to relieve malignant obstructive jaundice. Biochemical, haematological and microbiological parameters were measured before the procedure and repeated 7-9 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  External or internal-external biliary drainage was technically successful in all patients. No patient developed clinically significant biliary sepsis. Asymptomatic duodenal perforation occurred in one patient with bulky duodenal tumour following conversion from external to internal-external drainage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  External biliary drainage may be successfully performed in children with malignant obstructive jaundice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Roebuck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors