[Percutaneous bile drainage: complications and efficiency at short and mean terms: about 50 cases].

PURPOSE Our purpose is to evaluate the efficiency and mean term complications in percutaneous bile drainage through a retrospective study of 50 cases METHODS Fifty patients aged from 24 to 87 years underwent perecutaneous bile drainage in the Radiology Department of Mongi Slim hospital. Patients had external drainage, internal drainage or endoprotheses. Clinical and biological features were used to evaluate efficiency and complications. RESULTS Bile drainage was successful in 49 cases. Intra hepatic bile ducts were dilated in most of the cases (40 patients). A right lobe puncture was performed preferentially (41 patients). Fifteen patients had endoprotheses, 3 patients had internal drainage and 31 patients had external drainage. Clinical and biological improvement was noted in all patients. Complications were noted in 16 cases mainly in patients with neoplastic obstruction. CONCLUSION Percutaneous bile drainage is an effective method for the treatment of biliary obstruction. Complications are rare, occurring most frequently in patients with neoplastic obstruction.