title: Current status of endosonography-guided biliary drainage.
abstract: An obstructed biliary system is usually drained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and when this is unsuccessful, the standard alternative technique is percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Surgical biliary bypass may also be required. In recent years, endosonography has transformed from a solely diagnostic procedure to one with therapeutic capabilities. Endosonography-guided biliary drainage is now being performed as an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. This is an evolving field, with challenges that must be addressed before it can become a routine clinical practice. This review summarises the current status of endosonography-guided biliary drainage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529889. tiing_leong_ang@cgh.com.sg
authors.forename: Tiing Leong
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Ang
mesh_terms: D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000502:physiology*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015607:Stents