procedure

Last reviewed 01/2018

The procedure for a PTC is presented below:

  • a long, fine flexible needle is inserted under local anaesthetic towards the hilum of the liver
  • when bile refluxes a small amount of contrast is injected under radiographic screening
  • if a bile radicle has been cannulated further contrast is injected until the whole tree is delineated
  • dilated ducts invariably give a good image but the success rate may fall to 50% when the ducts are not dilated