Evaluation of preoperative biliary drainage in the surgical management of pancreatic head carcinoma.

In a consecutive series of 38 patients, resectional surgery was performed for carcinoma of the caput pancreatis (ampullary, distal common bile duct and pancreatic duct). In group A (n = 19), preoperative biliary drainage was accomplished via an endoprosthesis introduced during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Group B (n = 19) had no preoperative biliary drainage. The interval from admission to operation averaged 15 days in group A and 4 days in group B. Two group B patients died of causes unrelated to absence of preoperative biliary drainage. In group B, however, the intrabiliary pressure was higher than in group A and was associated with heightened incidence of biliary infection, bacteremia and intraoperative bleeding. The intergroup difference in incidence of early complications was statistically significant. The findings support the value of preoperative biliary drainage in patients who are candidates for surgical treatment of carcinoma of the pancreatic head.