Percutaneous biliary drainage in malignant biliary obstruction : results of initial experience

Abstract EN

Dear Editor, Malignant biliary obstruction is caused mainly by pancreatictumors, metastatic diseases, cholangiocarcinoma, andcarcinoma of gallbladder.

[1] Percutaneous transhepaticbiliary drainage (PTBD) and endoscopic retrogradecholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are widely used palliativeprocedures, each with its own merits and lacunae.

[2]Percutaneous biliary drainage is one of the several methods ofpalliating patients with unresectable carcinoma.

[3] Improvementin PTBD procedure with advanced in its material consumables, making PTBD equal to ERCP success and complications, withsignificant reduction in mortality and more survival benefit.

PTBD is an image‑guided procedure done usually under bothfluoroscope and ultrasound (US); its main indications arecholangitis, pruritus, pain alleviation, relief of obstructive