Guest guest Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 We have not actually received a copy of the CT Report but the assistant at the doctor's office said that the doctor wants to see to discuss the report but wrote 'CT OK but area of interest does not appear to be draining'. Any insights from this group would be appreciated. has an appointment on 4/4 but I hate waiting. He has been hurting most days in his liver - compared to about one day a week before. He has not been running any fevers. Thanks, Nichole (wife of PSC and UC 08/2004) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 It sounds like there is an area where the bile (supposedly) is not draining due to a blocked bile duct. This may be the source of liver pain. The solutions to this are either a percutaneous shunt (a needle directed into the fluid collection or bile duct near it) or an ERCP dilation of the bile duct distal to the fluid collection. Aubrey, MD PSC '81, UC '90, LTX '98, Recurrence '05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 The solutions to this are either a percutaneous shunt (a > needle directed into the fluid collection or bile duct near it) or an > ERCP dilation of the bile duct distal to the fluid collection. > Aubrey - Thank you for the response. Do you know which of the options is better and what factors will determine the option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 It depends on where the blockage is thought to be and whether the doctors think they can reach the blocked duct with the ERCP scope. If it's too far from the hepatic duct, one of the main bile ducts that leads into the liver from the common bile duct, they won't be able to reach it and open the duct up. Even if they can get a scope to the blocked duct, they may not be able to open it up from " below " . So a PTC, a needle through the chest into the liver may be the only option. After such a procedure is done, they usually leave a tube inserted and drained to a small collection bag on the outside. This prevents further build up and pain. But it then remains a site for infection to get into the liver and cholangitis to start. So there are tradeoffs to leaving it in place. I hope this explains things reasonably clearly. If you have further questions let me know. Aubrey, MD PSC '81, UC '90, LTX '98, Recurrence '05 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 Aubrey, Thank you so much for explaining all of this! Kind Regards, Nichole Rowland (wife of PSC & UC 08/2004) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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