After having percutaneous biliary drainage
Draining blocked bile ducts
Percutaneous biliary drainage is a minimally invasive procedure through the skin to drain blocked bile ducts.
What happens after the procedure
After the procedure, we take you to the recovery area. Your nurse tells you when you can start to eat and drink again.
We check the drainage tube frequently and you need to be careful not to knock it out of position. There may be yellow, green or brown bile from the drain, or it might be closed with a cap.
Your family and friends can visit you on the hospital ward during visiting hours.
Removing the drainage tube
The IR doctor discusses when the drain tube can be removed with the doctor who referred you for the procedure. In some cases, the tube may need to stay in place for a few days or several weeks.
Some people can go home with the drainage tube in place. In this case, your ward doctor or nurse explains what to do if you have any concerning symptoms.
Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
- you have a high temperature (fever)
- you are in pain
- your drainage tube has been knocked out of place
- there is leakage around the drainage tube
If and when you no longer need your drain, we will ask you to return to the interventional radiology (IR) department. We can then remove it and this is a much simpler procedure than putting in the drainage tube.
Resource number: 0247/VER6
Last reviewed: November 2023
Next review due: November 2026
A list of sources is available on request.
