Billiary Stricture

What exactly do they do to you during a PCT? Also what do they in the second part to remove the stones and the bilge? Do they insert a tube all the way into the bile duct and inflate it? I am supposed to have this procedure done and I am told I will have a tube coming out of me. What is the second part of this procedure called?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

a PTC is percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.  if there is a stricture or stone it can be dealt with at that time and most often a tube is left external to the body for drainage.  it probably would be for a short time only.  the tube accesses the bile duct--if a stricture (narrowing) is found than it can be ballooned open.  this maay takes several times for it to work.

[LillyLivered]

Thank you so much for your quick reply. A few more questions if you will bear with me. There are stones and bilge according to the MRI. When you say it may take several times for it to work, do you mean, several visits back, or will they do this several times while I am in thehospital? They will be doing the PTC on the first day. The next day they give me a general anesthetic and do whatever else they have to do. They told me the tube will be staying in for 3 to 6 months. Does that indicate to you that I would be expected to keep returning for drainage, or ballooning? I forgot to ask all of this. It gets confusing during visits. Thank you so much. Your response is greatly appreciated.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

gnerally what happens if there is a stricture (which sounds to be the case) the area is ballooned open in serial fashion over a couple of months.  the tube is left in place which allows the radiologists easy access to the biliary tree to perform the procedure.

[LillyLivered]

Thank you so much for your helpful information. It's sometimes hard to remember everything you need to ask when you are in the doctor's office.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

good luck with the procedure

[LillyLivered]

Thank you so much. That is very kind of you. Today is the day as a matter of fact.