Life
Comparative Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Versus Fluoroscopy-Guided Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) Due to Malignant Obstructive Jaundice: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
By Marco Giurdanella, Domenico Laganà, Caterina Battaglia and 9 others.
Abstract
Background
Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) remains a cornerstone in managing obstructive jaundice, particularly when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is unsuccessful or contraindicated. This study aims to compare ultrasound-guided (US-PTBD) and fluoroscopy-guided (F-PTBD) techniques regarding procedural time, radiation exposure, technical success, and complication rates.
Methods
This retrospective, single-center study included patients with malignant obstructive jaundice who underwent PTBD between January 2018 and December 2025. Patients were stratified based on the imaging modality used for the bile duct puncture (US-PTBD vs. F-PTBD). Procedural characteristics, including dose–area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time, complication rates, and technical success, were analyzed using statistical methods appropriate for continuous and categorical data.