OBJECTIVETo explore the necessity, advantages and disadvantages of reducing the Icterus Index before operation in carcinoma of the head of pancreas.

METHODSA total of 183 patients with serum total bilirubin (TB) level higher than 220 micromol/L were randomized into 2 groups: jaundice-reducing group (92 patients) and non-reducing group (91 patients). In jaundice-reducing group, all the patients were performed ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic bile duct drainage (UPTBD) and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD). The jaundice-reducing group was operated on 3 weeks after tube placement. In non-reducing group, all the patients underwent operations only after general pre-operation routine preparation within 5 days after admission. The operation and post-operation recovery in the two groups was investigated and compared.

RESULTSIn jaundice-reducing group, the level of TB decreased to 120 micromol/L from 279 micromol/L in 89 patients after biliary drainage. Of the 89 patients, pancreatoduodenectomy was successfully performed in 39 (43.8%), 47 (52.8%) underwent simple internal drainage and the other 3 were just explored. The average blood loss was 250 ml (110 - 980 ml), complications were found in 8 patients (9.0%) and one died. In non-reducing group, pancreatoduodenectomy was successfully performed in 24 (26.4%), simple internal drainage in 58 patients (63.7%) and exploration in 9 (9.9%). The average blood loss was 480 ml (320 - 1750 ml), complications were found in 19 patients (20.9%) and 4 died. In the non-reducing group, the patients with complications were older than those without complications, and the TB level was higher. The excision rate of carcinoma, incidence rate of complications and hospital time in patients whose TB decreased over 30% weekly after reducing the Icterus Index were all better than those of the rest.

CONCLUSIONSIt is necessary to reduce the Icterus Index before operation in the patients with carcinoma of head of pancreas complicated with serious jaundice, especially for the elder, which can not only reduce the blood loss but also make operations safer and increase cure rate, in addition. And whether the Icterus Index decreases smoothly with biliary drainage can be used to predict the operational risk, effect and prognosis.