Percutaneous internal biliary drainage for treatment of malignant biliary obstruction

Objective To evaluate the effect of percutaneous internal biliary drainage for treatment of malignant biliary obstruction.Methods Percutaneous internal biliary drainage was performed in 43 patients with malignant biliary obstruction via the inner outer draining catheter,the metallic stent or plastic endoprosthesis.Results The internal drainage was done with stent in 25 patients,with plastic endoprosthesis in 3 and with the inner outer draining catheter in 15.The total serum bilirubin decreased from 501 6±198 4μmol/L before the procedure to 230 7±138 5μmol/L one week after the procedure ( P 0 001),and both alkaline phosphatase and transaminase significantly decreased ( P 0 001).Three patients died of irrelevant situation to drainage within one month after procedure.Thirty six of 40 patients who survived for more than one month were followed up with an average of 5 9 months,including 7 patients alive.The total serum bilirubin decreased to the normal level within the period of follow up in 23 patients(63 9%)?Conclusion The percutaneous transhepatic internal biliary drainage is a safe and effective palliative therapy of malignant biliary obstruction.It can alleviate jaundice,improve the liver function and living quality,and limitedly extend the patients survival period.