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Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage guided endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography rendezvous technique for biliary stent placement: A case report
Chen-Yu Guo, Yu-Xia Wei, Jie Li, Guo-Hua Ren, Jun Cao, Lei Sun, Ji-Ye Zhao
Chen-Yu Guo, Department of Gastroenterology, Hohhot Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Mongolian Medicine, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Yu-Xia Wei, Lei Sun, Department of Gastroenterology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Jie Li, Department of Oncology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Guo-Hua Ren, Department of Medical Services Section, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Jun Cao, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu Province, China
Ji-Ye Zhao, Department of Encephalopathy, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Co-corresponding authors: Yu-Xia Wei and Jie Li.
Author contributions: Guo CY wrote the paper; Wei YX and Li J designed the study and supervised the writing of the paper as co-corresponding authors; Ren GH and Zhao JY collected clinical data and provided case information on patients; Cao J and Sun L performed the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedure; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: ChatGPT and Grammarly were used for language polishing and grammar proofreading. AI was used only for language polishing and translation. It was not used for data analysis or writing assistance.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2024LHMS08053.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Yu-Xia Wei, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 11 Health Street, Xincheng District, Hohhot 010000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.
weiyuxia2009@126.com
Received: January 16, 2026
Revised: February 13, 2026
Accepted: March 20, 2026
Published online: June 21, 2026
Processing time: 144 Days and 0.1 Hours
BACKGROUND
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a pivotal diagnostic and therapeutic modality for the assessment and management of pancreatic and bile duct disorders. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is a prevalent and progressively favored primary treatment modality for malignant obstructive jaundice, providing rapid biliary decompression, achieving high technical success rates, and serving as a conduit for subsequent interventions. Rendezvous techniques are poised to play a lasting role, given the rising demand for palliative care interventions following failed conventional ERCP.
CASE SUMMARY
This report details the case of a 69-year-old male patient who presented with complaints of jaundice, lower abdominal discomfort, and fatigue. The patient underwent two ERCP procedures with biliary stenting, and his PTBD catheter required regular replacement. However, the PTBD catheter failed to provide adequate drainage. The underlying condition was bile duct stenosis caused by malignant tumor compression, which proved refractory to conventional ERCP treatment. A guidewire was advanced through the existing PTBD tract, followed by the successful implantation of a biliary stent, which achieved intrahepatic biliary drainage. The PTBD catheter was intentionally left in place as a precaution against potential re-obstruction.
CONCLUSION
The PTBD-guided ERCP rendezvous technique is an effective salvage strategy when standard ERCP fails and can be flexibly applied by clinicians.
Core Tip: This report highlights an innovative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage-guided endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography rendezvous technique for biliary stent placement after failed conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. It demonstrates an effective salvage strategy that leverages an existing percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage tract to overcome complex anatomical challenges in malignant obstructive jaundice, providing a valuable therapeutic option for refractory cases.
