What is percutaneous biliary drainage?
Percutaneous biliary drainage involves placing a drain in the intrahepatic bile ducts, under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, in order to bypass an obstruction (tumour, stone, stricture) preventing the normal flow of bile.
Why choose this technique?
- To treat cholestasis (jaundice) caused by a biliary obstruction
- To avoid or prepare for biliary surgery
- Palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstructions
- Possible access for the removal of bile duct stones
How does it work?
1
Hospital stay of 2 to 3 days: under local anaesthesia ± sedation
2
Puncture of an intrahepatic bile duct under ultrasound guidance
3
Cholangiography to visualise the obstruction
4
Placement of a drain or a stent depending on the clinical situation
What is the recovery like?
- Gradual improvement of the jaundice (bilirubin stays high for several days)
- Possible temporary fever after the procedure
- Drain care if external drainage is used
- Hepatogastroenterology follow-up
📄 Patient information sheet
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Patient information sheet
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