Comparison of Infection between Internal-External and External Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage in Treating Patients with Malignant Obstructive Jaundice

Purpose: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is a form of palliative care for patientswith malignant obstructive jaundice. We here compared the infection incidence between internal-externaland external drainage for patients with malignant obstructive jaundice.
Methods: Patients with malignantobstructive jaundice without infection before surgery receiving internal-external or external drainage fromJanuary 2008 to July 2014 were recruited. According to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), ifthe guide wire could pass through the occlusion and enter the duodenum, we recommended internal-externaldrainage, and external drainage biliary drainage was set up if the occlusion was not crossed. All patients withinfection after procedure received a cultivation of blood and a bile bacteriological test.
Results: Among 110patients with malignant obstructive jaundice, 22 (52.4%) were diagnosed with infection after the procedure inthe internal-external drainage group, whereas 19 (27.9%) patients were so affected in the external drainagegroup, the difference being significant (p<0.05). In 8 patients (36.3%) in the internal-external group infectionwas controlled, as compared to 12 (63.1%) in the external group (p< 0.05). The mortality rate for patients withinfection not controlled in internal-external group in one month was 42.8%, while this rate in external group was28.6% (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: External drainage is a good choice, which could significantly reduce the chance ofbiliary infection caused by bacteria, and decrease the mortality rate at one month and improve the long-termprognosis.