Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) | Dr. Pushan Sharma - Neuro Vascular Intervention Specialist in Prayagraj

 

Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) is a medical procedure for diagnosis or treatment of a bile duct obstruction.

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is safe treatment for biliary decompression. It is usually done to control acute hepatobiliary sepsis or as a palliation for malignant jaundice. In most instances, PTBD is a temporary procedure prior to definitive intervention. However, PTBD can be left life-long in patients with predicted short life expectancy or prohibitive operative risk. We report on an elderly female patient with multiple comorbidities and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis (RPC) where bilateral PTBD catheters were inserted for sepsis. Thereafter the patient elected to have this left in situ until the catheter fracture warranted admission.

 

 

 

 

 

If you are suffering symptoms of a blocked bile duct, such as skin discolouration, itching, nausea and tiredness, a biliary drainage may relieve some of these symptoms over time (it often takes a number of days after the procedure for these benefits to become apparent). If the bile in the blocked bile ducts is infected, biliary drainage is an important part of the treatment. Biliary drainage often improves the liver function tests in patients requiring chemotherapy as part of cancer treatment.

 

 

Biliary drainage is carried out by a radiologist. This is a specialist doctor trained to carry out procedures using imaging guidance techniques, such as X-rays and ultrasound. The radiologist who carries out your drainage will send a written report to the doctor who refers you for the procedure.