Abstract
Malignant biliary strictures represent a significant clinical challenge worldwide,
with the majority of cases being unresectable at the time of diagnosis, necessitating
palliative biliary drainage. In some cases, preoperative drainage is required to optimize
surgical outcomes. Biliary drainage can be performed through either endoscopic or
percutaneous methods, each tailored to specific clinical scenarios. Endoscopic techniques
include endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic nasobiliary drainage,
and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage, while percutaneous options involve
percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and biliary stenting. The choice of technique
is guided by imaging findings, the clinical condition of the patient, and the expertise
of the interventionist to ensure effective drainage and minimize complications. Although
endoscopic methods are well-established and extensively studied, the percutaneous
approach offers distinct advantages in certain complex cases. This review provides
a comprehensive overview of biliary drainage techniques, with a particular focus on
the percutaneous approach.
Keywords
malignant biliary strictures - percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage - palliative
biliary interventions
