Percutaneous catheter biliary decompression.

Percutaneous catheter biliary decompression was performed in 42 patients with obstructive jaundice. Internal drainage was accomplished in 27 patients (64.3%), and external drainage in 15 patients (35.7%). Serum bilirubin levels decreased at a mean rate of 1.4 mg/dl/day. Tissue diagnosis was obtained by percutaneous aspiration biopsy in nine patients (21.4%). Complications occurred in 10 patients (23.8%): septic shock, two; bilious pleural effusion, one; hepatic subcapsular hematoma, one; sepsis, six. There was one death related to the procedure. The catheter management problems encountered included pain, catheter dislodgement or migration, lumen occlusion, and external bile leakage.