Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice:clinical efficacy and complications

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD) within one month in the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice,and to summarize the incidence of complications and effective treatment measures.Methods Hospital records were reviewed for 88 consecutive patients with malignant biliary obstruction who underwent PTBD procedures in our department.The indexes of hepatic function before PTBD and within one month after PTBD were compared.The incidence of complications and corresponding treatment measures were also documented.Results Serum total bilirubin decreased more than 30% in 83 patients and the efficacy rate of PTBD procedure was 94.3%(83/88).Serum total bilirubin,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase significantly decreased(P0.05) within one month after PTBD.Common complications associated with PTBD included cholangitis in 33 pateints(37.5%),drainage tubes displacement in 18 patients(20.45%),hemobilia in 15 patients(17.04%),tube occlusion in 4 patients(4.55%).Other rare complications included pulmonary infection,septicemia,pancreatitis and death,their incidences were all 1.13%(1/88).All complications except for death were successfully treated with effective measures.Conclusion Hepatic function can be improved by PTBD without serious complications in patients with obstructive jaundice.The cholangitis shows the highest incidence among all complications.