Personalized Approach to the Choice of Biliary Drainage Tactics in Patients With Tumor-Induced Mechanical Jaundice

Abstract

Mechanical jaundice resulting from the tumor-induced obstruction of bile ducts is usually the first and quite severe complication of malignant neoplasms of the organs of the hepatopancreatoduodenal zone. Radical treatment for this condition, as reported by various sources, remains below 20-25%. Therefore, the imperative is to select the most effective minimally invasive biliary drainage method to alleviate biliary tract pressure and address the issue of mechanical jaundice. This approach serves both as a preparatory step for potential radical surgical intervention and as a definitive method for palliative treatment in this patient category.
 The aim of this work is to develop an optimal algorithm for diagnosis and treatment of patients with tumor-induced mechanical jaundice, which will increase the effectiveness of primary surgical intervention and reduce the number of complications and mortality for this category of patients.
 The investigation focused on examining the results of diagnostic and surgical interventions in 108 patients with tumor-induced mechanical jaundice. These patients underwent biliary drainage operations in surgical hospitals between 2017 and 2023. Analysis of the surgical outcomes revealed that endoscopic drainage and percutaneous transhepatic drainage exhibited similar effectiveness in I and II levels of biliary obstruction. However, endoscopic drainage demonstrated lower complication rates and improved quality of life for patients, establishing it as the preferred method. For level III blockages, percutaneous transhepatic drainage is recommended.
 The implementation of a diagnostic and treatment algorithm, which considers the level of biliary block, the severity of mechanical jaundice, and the tumor process stage, enables the selection of the most effective minimally invasive biliary drainage method. This approach contributes to a reduction in postoperative mortality.