Annals of surgery
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Review Meta Analysis
A meta-analysis on the efficacy of preoperative biliary drainage for tumors causing obstructive jaundice.
To review the effectiveness of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) in patients with obstructive jaundice resulting from tumors. ⋯ This meta-analysis shows that PBD with current standards for patients with obstructive jaundice resulting from tumors carries no benefit and should not be performed routinely. The potential benefit of PBD in terms of postoperative rates of death and complications does not outweigh the disadvantage of the drainage procedure. Only if PBD-related complications could be reduced by 27% and consequently diminish hospital stay could PBD be beneficial. Further randomized controlled trials with improved PBD techniques are necessary.