[Palliative treatment of carcinoma of the hepatic duct junction. Intra-hepatic derivation or trans-tumoral intubation? (author's transl)]

Intra-hepatic cholangiojejunostomy (group I patients) and simple trans-tumoral intubation (group II patients) were retrospectively compared in a series of 44 patients with primary carcinoma of the hepatic duct junction. Hospital mortality was 30% in the 13 group I patients and 9.5% in the 21 group II patients. Jaundice and pruritus were equally relieved in both groups. The mean survival time (hospital deaths excluded) was 16 months in group I and 12 months in group II patients. It is concluded that the decision as to which of these two palliative surgical procedures should be performed must rest on the degree of biliary duct distension as well as on the patient's age and general condition.