Infection of the biliary tract during palliative drainage in patients with hilar malignant jaundice

Background. Hilar malignant biliary obstruction in about 80 % of patients is not subject to radical treatment. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) eliminates jaundice syndrome but is associated with bile loss. External-internal drainage is intended to eliminate this disadvantage, however, the balance between its benefits and the risk of complications, in particular cholangitis, has not yet been determined. The aim was to compare the rate of cholangitis and survival after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and external-internal suprapapillary drainage treatment in patients with hilar malignant jaundice. Materials and methods. Fifty patients with hilar malignant jaundice were prospectively examined. Patients who underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage were included in the PTBD group (n = 24); patients who underwent external-internal suprapapillary biliary drainage (EISBD) treatment were included in the EISBD group (n = 26). The endpoints of the study were the rate of cholangitis, cholangitis duration index (number of cholangitis-days per 100 patient-days in a group), and cumulative survival. Results. Cholangitis during the entire follow-up period occurred in 7 (14.0 %) patients: in 3 (11.5 %) patients in the EISBD group, in 4 (16.7 %) patients in the PTBD group; p = 0.602. Taking into account the census data (patients who died during this period), the difference in the cumulative frequency of cholangitis was more significant (25.6 % in the EISBD group, 49.1 % in the PTBD group); p = 0.142. The average time of the onset of cholangitis from the beginning of the operation was 68.8 ± 14.7 days in the PTBD group, 90.7 ± 42.0 days in the EISBD group; p = 0.601. In the EISBD group, the cholangitis duration index was less than in the PTBD group: 0.46 versus 1.4 cholangitis-days per 100 patient-days, respectively, p = 0.001. Patients of the EISBD group had a greater cumulative survival rate compared with the PTBD group: the median survival was 90 days (95% CI: 70.0–109.9 days) and 75 days (95% CI: 51.1–98.9 days), respectively; p = 0.033. Conclusions. For palliative management of hilar malignant jaundice, EISBD treatment should be the priority over PTBD treatment.