[Transparietal biliary drainage. 27 cases].

During a 2-year period, 27 patients with obstructive jaundice (due to cancer in 27) underwent transhepatic biliary drainage with an 85% success rate. Most of the failures occurred in early attempts and were due to lack of experience. In neoplastic obstructive jaundice, endoprosthesis proved superior to external drainage: jaundice regressed more frequently and more completely, the patients' comfort was improved, survival was significantly prolonged and complications were less frequent. Per-operative biliary drainage, used in a controlled trial, proved useless, as patients developed cholangitis.