BACKGROUND Nonsurgical biliary drainage is considered as a priority for obstructive jaundice associated with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Successful drainage allows the patient to receive antitumor therapy, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, only limited data are available on clinical outcomes in patients who treated biliary drainage with subsequent TACE.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the clinical outcome of biliary drainage with subsequent TACE in unresectable HCC patients with obstructive jaundice.

DESIGN This was a retrospective study.

SETTING/SUBJECTS A total of 60 patients received endoscopic biliary drainage (ERBD) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in two tertiary care referral centers.

MEASUREMENTS Successful drainage and survival were measured.

RESULTS Successful drainage was achieved in 39 (65%) patients. The median survival of 39 patients in whom successful drainage was achieved, regardless of which procedure was performed, was much longer than that of 21 patients without successful drainage (147 days versus 38 days, respectively, P<.001). In particular, the median survival was longer in 17 patients who underwent TACE after achieving successful drainage than in 22 patients who were treated conservatively after achieving successful drainage (410 days versus 77 days, respectively, P<.001). Multivariable analysis in 39 patients in the successful drainage group showed that TACE (hazard ratio 0.15; 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.45, P=.001) was an independent predictive factor of a favorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS Effective palliation by successful biliary drainage with subsequent TACE might prolong the survival in patients with obstructive jaundice caused by unresectable HCC.