Portal vein embolization in the treatment of portal vein bleeding after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage: A case report and literature review

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD) is an effective treatment for benign and malignant obstructive jaundice. Major bleeding complications occur in approximately 2–3% of patients after PTBD, which can result in death. A case involving a 63-year-old male with malignant obstructive jaundice, who experienced severe bleeding after PTBD, is reported. Emergency digital subtraction angiography, celiac trunk artery and superior mesenteric artery angiography were performed; however, no signs of arterial bleeding were found. To identify etiology,portal venography was performed under ultrasound guidance and portal vein bleeding was diagnosed. Ultimately,selective portal vein embolization successfully stopped the bleeding.