Aims
Decompression of malignant biliary obstruction is important for quality of life and potential chemotherapy (CTx). PTBD is an alternative when endoscopic stenting with ERCP is not possible. In MHBO, PTBD is the preferred intervention as multiple branches may be obstructed rendering ERCP stenting suboptimal. The aim was to assess the impact of PTBD for MHBO on patient outcomes and compare them to management of extrahepatic obstruction.
Methods
Retrospective chart audit of all patients diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) at the University of Alberta Hospital from 07/2023-06/2024. Primary outcome was a reduction of the bilirubin to ⩽30 µmol/L. Secondary outcomes were successful initiation and completion of CTx, procedural complications, re-interventions, hospital length of stay (HLOS), and mortality.
Results
30 pts (17 M), median age of 70 ± 10 yrs (52-94 yrs) presented with CCA. Location of CCA was intrahepatic in 9, hilar in 13, and extrahepatic in 8 pts. No pts with intrahepatic CCA underwent PTBD and were not included in this review. We compared pts with MHBO and those with extrahepatic CCA (Table).
|
|
Hilar CCA |
Extrahepatic CCA |
|
Pts, n |
13 |
8 |
|
Baseline bilirubin (bili) µmol/L, median ± SD |
136 ± 128 |
126 ± 95 |
|
Intervention, n None ERCP only PTBD only ERCPPTBD PTBDERCP |
2 1 6 3 1 |
2 6 0 0 0 |
|
Lowest post-intervention bili µmol/L, median ± SD |
15 ± 71 |
11 ± 4 |
|
Time to lowest bili, days, median ± SD |
46 ± 64 |
47 ± 16 |
|
Primary outcome, n Pts with bili ⩽30 µmol/L Pts with bili >31 µmol/L |
8 (62%) 5 |
8 (100%) 0 |
|
Chemotherapy, n Pts referred to cancer centre Pts offered CTx Pts that started CTx Pts that finished CTx |
11/13 (85%) 5/13 (38%) 3/13 (23%) 0/13 (0) |
7/8 (88%) 6/8 (75%) 6/8 (75%) 2/8 (25%) |
|
Complications, n Total Bile leak Drain/stent occlusion Pancreatitis |
9/13 (69%) 8 7 1 |
3/8 (38%) - 2 1 |
|
Re-intervention, n Pts needing repeat procedures Total number of repeat procedures Overall rate of repeat procedures/pt |
10/13 (77%) 44 (range 1-11) 3.4 |
4/8 (50%) 10 (range 1-5) 1.3 |
|
Mortality, n Time to death post-intervention, days, mean ± SD |
7 (54%) 158 ± 102 |
5 (62%) 286 ± 41 |
|
HLOS in days, mean ± SD |
22 ± 16 |
7 ± 7 |
Conclusions
The primary outcome was achieved with PTBD in 62% pts with MHBO but significant complications requiring re-intervention precluded optimal CTx, and were associated with a longer HLOS and shorter survival. Further inquiry into cost implications, and assessment of PTBD as standard of care in pts with MHBO is required.