INFLUENCE OF BILIARY DRAINAGE CATHETER ON BILE-DUCT WALL THICKNESS ASMEASURED BY INTRADUCTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Objective: To determine the influence of biliary drainage catheter pla cement on bile duct wall thickness, we performed intraductal ultrasono graphy (IDUS) in patients before and after biliary drainage. Methods: Patients underwent IDUS before and after either short-term (n = 9, 6 t o 8 days) or long-term (n = 9, 14 to 35 days) biliary drainage using a thin (2.0 mm diameter), 20 MHz probe inserted by means of a transpapi llary route or a percutaneous tract. The bile duct wall thickness (mea n +/- standard deviation) was retrospectively measured at the upper po rtion of the common hepatic duct. Results: The bile duct wall thicknes s increased from 0.8 +/- 0.4 mm (predrain-age) to 2.0 +/- 1.6 mm (post -drainage) in the long-term group (p < 0.001) but was not significantl y increased in the short-term group. Conclusions: The bile duct wall t hickness as measured on IDUS appears to be increased after placement o f biliary drainage catheters.