Abstract. Malignant obstructive jaundice comprises a group of diseases that can be caused by primary biliary and extra-biliary carcinomas. Generally, surgical resection is the primary treatment for malignant obstructive jaundice; however, for the patients that are unable to undergo surgery, urgent treatment is required to improve hepatic function. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and stenting are emerging alternative treatments for malignant obstructive jaundice. PTBD and stenting have exhibited good efficacy for the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice, with few complications and reduced associated pain.
IntroductionMalignant obstructive jaundice comprises a group of diseases that can be caused by primary biliary carcinomas, such as cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, and extra-biliary carcinomas, such as ampullary, pancreatic and gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (1). Malignant obstructive jaundice can lead to hyperbilirubinemia, anorexia, pruritus, cholangitis, septicemia and liver failure. Generally, surgical resection remains the primary treatment for malignant obstructive jaundice; however, in numerous cases the malignant obstructive jaundice is detected when the disease is already at an advanced stage (2). For the patients that are unable to undergo surgery, urgent treatment is required to improve hepatic function, in order to facilitate the addition of subsequent anti-tumor therapy to their treatment regimen. The average survival time of patients with obstructive jaundice is <3 months (3). Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and stenting are emerging alternative treatments for malignant obstructive jaundice that exhibit good clinical efficacy and few complications and lead to limited patient suffering. PTBD and stenting is the first choice for elderly patients, patients with inoperable malignant obstructive jaundice, and patients with postoperative recurrence, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
Case reportCase 1. The patient was a 51-year-old man who presented with ~3 weeks' history of obstructive jaundice. The patient was admitted to Fuyan People's Hospital (Fuyang, China) on June 12, 2014. Liver and kidney function analyses, and routine blood tests were conducted upon admission; and heaptic bilirubin levels were higher than normal. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed pancreatic cancer, as well as dilation of the intra-and extrahepatic bile ducts. The patient was at an advanced disease stage and refused to undergo surgical resection. PTBD and stenting were performed in the interventional operating room following the provision of informed consent by the patient. The procedure to puncture the biliary duct was guided under ultrasound (US). An 18-G Chiba needle and a 0.035-inch guide-wire were used to gain access to the biliary system using a right-sided puncture approach. An 8-F sheath was inserted to facilitate the procedure. A 0.035-inch hydrophilic guide-wire was advanced through the stenosis into the duodenum. The hydrophilic guide-wire was...