Background: Percutaneous biliary drainage is an established alternative to ERCP for managing bile duct obstruction. Although generally safe and effective, percutaneous drainage has its risks and is technically more difficult in patients with nondilated bile ducts. We report the use of nasobiliary drains and subsequent nasobiliary drain cholangiography to facilitate percutaneous biliary drainage by providing a target for accessing intrahepatic bile ducts.
Methods/results: Nine patients who were identified as requiring percutaneous biliary drainage underwent nasobiliary tube placement at completion of ERCP. Five of 9 patients had generalized intrahepatic ductal dilatation; in 4 patients, dilatation was focal or absent. Following nasobiliary drain cholangiography, percutaneous needle puncture of a bile duct was successful in all patients, in most cases with only a single puncture of the liver capsule. No procedural complications were encountered.
Conclusion: Nasobiliary drain placement with subsequent nasobiliary drain cholangiography facilitates percutaneous biliary drainage and may be especially helpful in patients with nondilated intrahepatic bile ducts.