Purpose

The present study aimed to determine whether the percentage of bleeding complications differs between the right and the left approaches in percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) in adult patients.

Materials and methods

This was a prospective, descriptive, nonrandomized comparative and longitudinal study. We included adult patients over 18 years of age who underwent a PBD. We excluded those with a bilateral PBD for the comparative study. Usually, but not exclusively, we performed the right approach under fluoroscopic guidance and the left one under ultrasound and fluoroscopy.

Results

Of 150 cases, 63 were performed using the right approach and 61 with the left; 26 were performed with the bilateral. The right approach faced less dilated biliary ducts and more benign diseases. We experienced 20 bleeding complications (13.33%, confidence intervals of 95%=8.3-19.8), 7 in the bilateral approach, 10 in the right approach, and 3 in the left one. The difference between the right and the left approaches was statistically significant (Fisher P=0,04). No procedures were required to obtain hemostasis, and only one patient (0.66%, confidence intervals of 95%=0.009-3.66) (in the right side) required a red blood cell transfusion. We found no related mortality.

Conclusions

Global bleeding complications are more likely to appear in the right approach in which less dilated biliary ducts and more benign diseases probably contributed to a higher number of needle passes, portal and hepatic vein punctures, and, therefore, to an increase in the risk of bleeding complications. The significant bleeding complication rate was low (0.66%).