Diagnostic and therapeutic values of percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography (PTC) and biliary drainage in obstructive jaundice patients

Background: Percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography is an interventional diagnostic and therapeutic procedure used in the diagnosis and management of obstructive jaundice. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic values of percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography and biliary drainage in obstructive jaundice patients.
Patients and Methods: Study included 30 patients with obstructive jaundice. All patients performed percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography. Diagnostic percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography was done first to detect the site, level and shape of the stenosis then therapeutic Percutaneous biliary drainage was done to drain the bile from the dilated biliary tree.
Results: This study included 30 patients with obstructive jaundice (21 male and 9 females). 96.66% of patients had malignant obstruction and 3.33% had benign obstruction. The accuracy of PTC in diagnosis of biliary dilatation, cause and level of obstruction was 100%. External biliary drainage done for all 30 patients then internal stent was inserted for 26 patients with technical success rate for passing the stricture was 86.66 %. Technical success rate of percutaneous biliary drainage was 100% manifested by decrease in the serum bilirubin level and improvement of liver function tests in all patients 1 week after the drainage. Technique-related morbidity was 13.33 % with no procedure-related mortality
Conclusion: Percutaneous trans-hepatic cholangiography has high diagnostic accuracy rate 100% in diagnosis of biliary dilatation, cause and level of biliary obstruction. Percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage has high therapeutic success rate of bile drainage 100% with high technical success rate 86.66% for passing the stricture in patients with obstructive jaundice.