Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy Guided Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage in Patients With Malignant Bile Duct Obstruction - Impact of Puncture Angle on Total Fluoroscopy Time Reduction

Data used for this study will be collected from medical records of patients who underwent PTBD at the Interventional radiology department. Only patients who received percutaneous biliary drainage performed with right sided intercostal approach will be included in study. The initial puncture was ultrasound-guided in all patients. Any subsequent step of the procedure was performed under fluoroscopy. The cumulative fluoroscopy time (the total time of the exposure to X rays during intervention) after the US guided puncture was recorded. It will be used as an indirect measure of the complexity of the intervention and as an important parameter of radiation exposure. The patients will be divided into two groups based on the puncture angle: ≤30° group and >30° group. The two groups will be retrospectively analysed for technical success, fluoroscopy time and complications.