[Cholestasis diagnostics. Experiences with the percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) using the Chiba needle (author's transl)].

We were successfull in doing a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) using the Chiba needle in 29 out of our 32 first cases including 19 out of 20 icteric and 10 out of 12 unicteric patients. Already when getting familiarized with the procedure the PTC seems to be superior as compared to the endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in regard to results, risks, inconvenience to the patient, costs and technical skill. In this way the cholestasis diagnostics could be improved also in smaller hospitals missing the personnel and instrumental requirements to do the ERC procedure.