title: Microcatheter use for difficult percutaneous biliary procedures.
abstract: Percutaneous biliary drainage procedures in patients with nondilated ducts are demanding, resulting in lower success rates than in patients with bile duct dilatation. Pertinent clinical settings include patients with iatrogenic bile leaks, diffuse cholangiocarcinomas, and sclerosing cholangitis. We describe a method to facilitate these procedures with the combined use of a 2.7-Fr microcatheter and a 0.018-in. hydrophilic wire.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Radiology, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, 1 Rimini Street, 12462, Chaidari, Greece. ebrountz@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Elias N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Brountzos
authors.forename: Alexis D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kelekis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ptohis
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kotsioumba
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Misiakos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perros
authors.forename: Athanasios D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gouliamos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D002404:Catheterization; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055616:Microtechnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008904:Miniaturization; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome