Patients Radiation Exposure in Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) Procedures

The initial puncture of the bile duct with an access needle is performed by ultrasound guidance or by fluoroscopic guidance. After injection of the radiopaque contrast media into the bile duct system the rest of the examination is performed by fluoroscopic guidance. All different PTBD procedures are analyzed: insertion, exchange or removal of a plastic catheter, metal stent implantation, PTBD with cholangioscopy, PTBD with ballon dilatation, PTBD with lithotrypsy or diagnostic percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.