title: Palliative surgical bypass versus percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage on unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the survival probability of unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma patients who have been managed by palliative surgical bypass versus percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A historical (retrospective) cohort study was performed by retrospective and prospective data collection. From January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2002, all unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma patients who received only one type of palliative surgical bypass or PTBD in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University were included in the present study. The patients were followed until December 31, 2004. Survival analysis was completed for all of the patients. STATISTIC ANALYSIS: Survival analysis was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method, Cox regression analysis, and Log-rank test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 83 patients were included. Palliative surgical bypass was performed in 42 patients and PTBD was performed in 41 patients. Demographic data, peri-operative complication rate, and late complication rate were comparable. The median survival time of the palliative surgical bypass group was 160 days,(95% CI: 85.33, 234.67) and 82 days (95% CI: 29.76, 134.24)for PTBD group. Comparing survival experience by Log-rank test gave statistical significant diference (p = 0.0276). Hazard ratio was 0.599 (p = 0.03)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survival rate of the palliative surgical bypass group was higher than the PTBD group. The survival rate of both groups was comparable to previous reports.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery 3 Unit, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. narwon@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Narongchai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wongkonkitsin
authors.forename: Ake
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phugkhem
authors.forename: Kriangsak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jenwitheesuk
authors.forename: O-Tur
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Saeseow
authors.forename: Vajarabhongsa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhudhisawasdi
mesh_terms: D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000601:surgery; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate