Percutaneous biliary drainage in patients with nondilated intrahepatic bile ducts

OBJECTIVE. We evaluated the technical success and complications of percutan eous transhepatic biliary drainage in patients with nondilated intrahepatic bile ducts. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Between January 1, 1996, and August 31, 1998, 130 pe rcutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedures were performed on patie nts with nondilated intrahepatic bile ducts. This group comprised primarily patients who had received liver transplants or who had sustained iatrogeni c bile duct injuries. Access in all procedures was performed using a one-st ep system consisting of a 21-gauge needle and an .018-inch guidewire. The t echnical success and complications of the procedures were evaluated. RESULTS. Percutaneous biliary drainage was successful in 117 (90%) of 130 a ttempts. In four patients, two attempts were required to place a drainage c atheter. The overall complication rate was 9%. There were seven (5%) minor complications and five major complications (4%). No procedure-related death s occurred. CONCLUSION. Percutaneous biliary drainage can be performed with a high succ ess rate in patients with nondilated intrahepatic ducts. The incidence and types of complications in this population were similar to those reported in patients with intrahepatic ductal dilatation.