TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE BY PERCUTANEOUS TRANSHEPATIC BILIARY ENDOPROSTHESIS, PTBE

Nonsurgical internal biliary drainage, percutaneous transhepatic biliary endoprosthesis, PTBE, was successfully performed in all of 60 attempts (100%). Value of PTBE was assessed in comparison with PTCD undergone in 214 patients. Efficacy of PTBE in the reducement of plasma bilirubin level and improvement of general condition were excellent and incidence of interruption of biliary drainage became infrequent by PTBE. Convalescence rate and cumulative survival rate were higher in the patients with malignant obstructive jaundice treated by PTBE. Complications such as the catheter clogging should be solved in the near future.