Radiology, Vol 134, 33-35, Copyright © 1980 by Radiological Society of North America
The failed transhepatic cholangiogram
PF Jaques, MA Mauro and JH Scatliff
A study of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiograms in 94 consecutive
patients revealed that success is largely determined by the number of
passes attempted. Two of 43 patients with dilated intrahepatic ducts had
unsuccessful cholangiograms, but in these patients only two and three
passes were attempted. In the remaining 41 patients fewer than seven passes
were required. In patients with nondilated ducts, the success rate bears an
almost linear relationship to the number of attempted passes beyond the
fourth pass. Since patient tolerance often limits the number of passes,
careful technique is important; one such technique is described. In the
cholangiogram failures with nondilated ducts, subsequent liver biopsy had a
high diagnostic yield.
