In the last two decades percutaneous fluid drainage from the bodyhas replaced surgical drainage, which used to be performed in the past.
Percutaneous drainage is performed by interventional radiology specialists and with the help of cathetersunder radiological guidance – usually involving axial tomography – with great precision and particularly high success rates and minimal complications.
The method significantly improves the quality of life for oncologic patients andtreats toxic effects – such as those in patients with liver cancer, which might prove fatal – or in cases where, if biliary ducts are not drained, the patient might present jaundice and be forced to terminate their overall treatment.
Dr Ioannis Dedes, an interventional radiology expert, performs percutaneous fluid drainage and biliary duct drainage through external or internal-external catheters; he also performs angioplastic interventions in the biliary ducts and endoprosthesis (stent) placement with particularly high success rates. Selecting a method with an external or an internal-external catheter depends on the extent of the intra-hepatic infiltration of biliary ducts.