Application of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and percutaneous transhepatic insertion of biliary stent in treating malignant biliary obstruction

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and percutaneous transhepatic insertion of biliary stent (PTIBS) for malignant biliary obstruction. Methods: PTBD or PTIBS were performed in 56 patients with malignant biliary obstruction, which were caused by hepatic carcinoma (n=14), biliary duct carcinoma (n=11), gallbladder carcinoma (n=5), stomach carcinoma accompanied with metastasis of lymph node (n=14), carcinoma of ampulla (n=1) or carcinoma of pancreatic head (n=11). The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasonography, CT or MRI in all patients. The obstructed site was well identified, including high obstruction in 19 patients and lower obstruction in 37 patients. Based on the imaging findings, suitable interventional procedure was employed. Results: PTBD or PTIBS were performed successfully in all 56 patients, of them PTBD was adopted in 11, PTIBS in 40 and both PTBD and PTIBS in 5. The serum total bilirubin decreased from (295.65 ± 152.86) μmol/L before the procedure to (151.05 ± 107.36) μmol/L after the procedure (P<0.01). Postoperative infection could affect the fading of jaundice (P<0.01), but the location of the obstruction carried no relationship with the fading of jaundice (P=0.063). Conclusion: Both PTBD and PTIBS are safe and effective palliative therapies for malignant biliary obstruction, which can markedly relieve patient of jaundice, improve the quality of life and elongate the survival period. (authors)