Percutaneous Biliary Drainage

Percutaneous biliary drainage was one of the first nonvascular interventional radiology procedures to be widely used, and it continues to be performed today despite advances in endoscopic drainage. Currently, the procedure is usually reserved as a second-line therapy when endoscopic drainage is not feasible (e.g., due to prior biliary enteric anastomosis) or when endoscopic drainage fails.

SUGGESTED READINGS

• 1 Burke D R, Lewis C A, Cardella J F Society of Interventional Radiology Standards of Practice Committee. et al. Quality improvement guidelines for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and biliary drainage.  J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2003;  14 S243-S246
• 2 Cope C. Usefulness of a percutaneous transhepatic coaxial micropuncture needle technique in patients with nondilated peripheral intrahepatic ducts.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;  181 1017-1020
• 3 Funaki B, Zaleski G X, Straus C A et al.. Percutaneous biliary drainage in patients with nondilated intrahepatic bile ducts.  AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1999;  173 1541-1544