A safe method of intrahepatic biliary drainage in obstructive jaundice.

In malignant disease with severe obstructive jaundice, survival after operative intervention is extremely low. Simple external biliary drainage is desirable for these patients, as a preliminary procedure for radical operation or long-term palliation. Intrahepatic biliary drainage at the anterior edge of the liver can be performed easily and safely under local anesthesia in case of obstruction of the proximal bile ducts, just as cholecystostomy is indicated for obstruction of the common bile duct.