RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Several advances in the diagnosis, therapy and palliation of patients affected by malignant biliary obstruction have occurred during the last decades. Unresectable malignant biliary obstruction has usually been treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) versus metallic biliary drainage (MBD). The optimal management of complications after biliary drainage is still an unresolved problem. To compare the complications of malignant biliary obstruction after PTBD and MBD. METHODS: We enrolled 51 patients of malignant biliary obstruction after biliary drainage. The clinical characteristics and complications of each groups were assessed and compared. RESULTS: The complications after biliary drainage of MBD are lower than those of PTBD (59.1% vs 82.8%, P = 0.06, respectively). Patients with PTBD tended to have a shorter event of complication time compared to MBD patients (2.9 months vs 7.1 months, P < 0.01). Patients with older age in PTBD tended to have a longer event of complication time compared to younger patients (4.6 months vs 2.3 months, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The method of biliary drainage in malignant biliary obstruction have statistically significant impact on the complication time. The clinical efficacy of metallic stent in patients with malignant biliary obstruction is better than that of PTBD.