What is a PTC for obstructive jaundice?

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) is a procedure that can be performed to evaluate the cause of obstructive jaundice. Some key points about PTC for obstructive jaundice:

- It involves inserting a thin needle through the skin into the liver to access the bile ducts. Contrast dye is injected to visualize the biliary system on X-ray.

- It is minimally invasive compared to open surgery or endoscopy to evaluate jaundice.

- PTC allows the physician to see blockages, strictures, gallstones, tumors, or other causes of bile duct obstruction on the cholangiogram images.

- It can differentiate between intrahepatic (within the liver) and extrahepatic (outside the liver) causes of bile duct obstruction.

- The images can help plan treatments like surgery, stenting, or stone removal procedures.

- After PTC, a biliary drainage catheter may be left in place if needed to relieve the obstruction and drain bile externally. 

- Risks include bleeding, infection, pancreatitis, and contrast reactions, but it is generally safe in experienced hands. 

So in summary, PTC is an imaging procedure used to define the cause, level, and severity of biliary obstruction in patients with obstructive jaundice to guide appropriate management. The images are extremely helpful in surgical and endoscopic planning.