Role of Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage as an Adjunct to Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Nikita Verma; Hema H K; Pankaj Gupta; Mandeep Kang; Naveen Kalra; Jayanta Samanta; Harshal Mandavdhare; Vishal Sharma; Usha Dutta; Rakesh Kochhar; Manavjit S Sandhu

doi:10.1016/j.jceh.2021.09.002

Role of Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage as an Adjunct to Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2022 Mar-Apr;12(2):287-292. doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2021.09.002. Epub 2021 Sep 10.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
² Department of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.

Abstract

Background: There is limited literature on the role of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) as an adjunct to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This study evaluates the role of PTBD in patients with failed ERCP or post-ERCP cholangitis.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of clinical and intervention records of patients with biliary obstruction referred for PTBD following failed ERCP or post-ERCP cholangitis was performed. The cause of biliary obstruction, baseline serum bilirubin, white blood cell (WBC) count, serum creatinine, and procalcitonin were recorded. Technical success and clinical success (resolution of cholangitis, reduction in bilirubin levels, WBC count, creatinine, and procalcitonin) were assessed.

Results: Sixty-three patients (35 females, mean age 51.4 years) were included. Indications for ERCP included malignant causes in 47 (74.6%) cases and benign causes in 16 (25.4%) cases. Indications for PTBD were failed ERCP in 21 (33.3%) and post-ERCP cholangitis in 42 (66.7%). PTBD was technically successful in all patients. Clinical success rate was 68.2% in the overall group. Mild hemobilia was noted in five (7.9%) patients. There were no major complications or PTBD related mortality. Cholangitis and acute kidney injury resolved following PTBD in 63.1% and 80% of the patients, respectively. Total serum bilirubin reduced by 47.8% and 69.4% after one week and one month of the PTBD, respectively. The average fall in procalcitonin was 5.17 ng/mL after one week of the PTBD.

Conclusion: PTBD is an important adjunctive drainage procedure in patients with ERCP failure or post-ERCP cholangitis.

Keywords: ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; EUS-BD, endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage; ICU, intensive care unit; PTBD, Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage; PTI, prothrombin time index; WBC, white blood cell count; biliary obstruction; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.