Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography with the "Skinny" Needle

Abstract
Cases (131) of cholestasis were evaluated by skinny needle percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. The biliary tree was seen in 129 patients (98.5%). When the biliary tree was dilated, a success rate of 100% was obtained. In the 45 patients with nondilated ducts, visualization was achieved in 95.6%. There was no mortality, early operation or transfusion requirement associated with the procedure. This form of cholangiography is a simple, reliable and extremely high-yield technique for evaluating patients with cholestasis.