Introduction: Percutaneous Biliary drainage (PTBD) is required as palliation and optimization for surgery or chemotherapy in carcinoma gallbladder (GBC) but may be associated with complications. We aimed to study the outcomes, complications and changes in quality of life in patients with GBC undergoing PTBD.Methods: A prospective study from July 2018 to December 2019 in patients of GBC presenting with obstructive jaundice was done. Patients planned for PTBD were included in the study. The progression of disease, complications of PTBD, re-interventions, effects on initiation or completion of chemotherapy, surgical resection or intervention, overall survival was recorded. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using SF-36 questionnaire before and after 4-6 weeks of intervention.Results: Of 160 patients assessed for inclusion, 60 (mean age: 53.7 ± 10.95 years, 27 (45 %) males) were eventually included. Eleven patients (18.3%) had metastatic disease at presentation. Of 60 patients undergoing PTBD, none had immediate procedure related complications, 41(68 %) patients had at-least one and 18 (30%) patients had more than one complication. The most common complication was pericatheter bile leak (41.6%) followed by catheter dislodgement (30 %), blockage (23.3 %) and bleeding (10 %). Re-intervention was required in 32 (53 %) of patients. There was a signi cant decrease in QoL after PTBD (P<0.0001). Median survival after PTBD was 12 weeks.
Conclusion:The high technical success of PTBD does not translate into the improvement of QoL, survival, and curative surgical treatment.