Interventional Radiology - Technical Note

Percutaneous transhepatic techniques for retrieving fractured and intrahepatically dislodged percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage catheters

10.5152/dir.2017.17064

  • Liu Hsien-Tzu
  • Tseng Hsiuo-Shan
  • Chiu Nai-Chi
  • Lin Yi-Yang
  • Chiou Yi-You
  • Liu Chien-An

Received Date: 30.06.2017 Accepted Date: 09.08.2017 Diagn Interv Radiol 2017;23(6):461-464

Dislodged intrabiliary drainage devices, including catheters, endoprostheses, and stents, may further impair drainage and cause various local reactions, vascular and gastrointestinal tract complications. Endoscopic approaches for management of plastic biliary endoprostheses have been extensively discussed. However, in rare cases of fracture of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) catheters, only a percutaneous transhepatic technique for retrieving should be applied to avoid further damage by its rigid fragment. We present the adjusted techniques using either a goose neck snare, over-the-wire balloon catheter, or biopsy forceps with image demonstration and reviews. We encountered two patients with PTBD tube fracture and intrahepatic dislodgment. In both patients, percutaneous approaches were used for successfully retrieving and removing the fractured catheter through transhepatic tract: one with the use of a biopsy forceps, another with an inflatable balloon catheter.