Abstract
Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is one of the therapeutic techniques available for patients with obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic biliary drainage procedures have recently seen wide use in the management of biliary obstruction; however, the endoscopic approach may fail because of malignant involvement of the duodenum and major papilla, or complications such as duodenal perforation and bleeding. PTBD is useful for such cases. Other applications include the management of biliary fistula after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and benign biliary stricture after liver transplantation or choledochojejunostomy. Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) improves the technical success of PTBD when it is used in patients with non-dilated bile ducts. Because PTBD is an invasive technique, potential complications, including bleeding, cholangitis, biliary peritonitis, and sepsis, may occur. PTBD is generally accepted to have a higher complication rate than endoscopic procedures; therefore, the indications and procedures for PTBD must be carefully considered.
