Background: Biliary percutaneous procedures (BPP) are useful on management of benign biliary pathology.
Objective: Communicate our experience with percutaneous biliary procedures made by surgeons in a specific Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Section.
Population: Retrospective evaluation in 84 patients with benign biliary diseases, treated with BPP from January 1989 through January 2002.
Results: Diagnosis common bile duct stones 21 patients, strictures after common bile duct injury (SCBDI) 29 patients, and other benign bile duct strictures (OBBDS) 34 patients.
Indications: Acute cholangitis 45, pruritus 11, high surgical risk 10, contraindicated or failed endoscopic access 9, before liver transplantation 12 and other causes 3. Procedures (n=141): percutaneous drainage 96, stricture dilatation 27, percutaneous stone treatment 12, stents 5 and biopsy 1.
Effectiveness: Cholangitis 94.8%, stones 100%, anastomotic stricture dilatation (by SCBDI 45.5% and by OBBDS 90%).
Complications: Total 32 (38.1%).
Mortality: 3 (3.6%).
Conclusions: 1-Percutaneous drainage was an effective method for bile duct decompression in acute cholangitis, allowing an elective and definitive treatment of the pathology. 2-BPP solved strictures in patients with a high surgical risk and in those with complex diseases. 3-The results of biliary percutaneous dilatation were related to their etiology.