ARTERIAL PSEUDOANEURYSM AS A COMPLICATION OF PERCUTANEOUS TRANSHEPATIC BILIARY DRAINAGE - TREATMENT BY EMBOLIZATION

We observed a serious arterial hemorrhage as a complication of percuta neous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). The hemorrhage appeared du ring catheter placement for implantation of an endobiliary stent as a two-step procedure. It was caused by an arterial pseudoaneurysm and co uld be successfully treated by superselective embolization. Although t here was a preexisting cavernous transformation of the portal vein no signs of livercell necrosis appeared after embolotherapy. Vascular com plications of PTBD will be discussed with regard to their frequency, p ossible etiology, ways to avoid them and their interventional therapy.