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Biliary drain

When a bile duct is blocked, bile backs up into the liver and turns your skin and eyes yellow. A biliary drain is a thin tube that goes through the skin of your right side and through the liver into the blocked duct. It is usually put in while you are relaxed and numbed, and it lets the bile drain again so the yellow colour and itching can settle. Your letter may call it PTBD.

The short version

  1. A biliary drain is a thin, soft tube put through the skin of your right side and through the liver into a blocked bile duct, so bile can drain again.
  2. It is done in the IR department with numbing medicine and medicine to relax you, and it often takes about an hour.
  3. Bile drains into a bag outside your body, or past the blockage into your bowel, and the yellow colour and itching should slowly get better.

When to get help

Call 9-1-1 now if you have:
  • Chest pain.
  • Trouble breathing.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Trouble with balance.
  • Trouble using your arms or legs.
  • Any time you think it is an emergency.
Call the interventional radiology (IR) team today if you have:
  • A fever of 38 °C or higher, or chills.
  • Heavy bleeding.
  • New blood in the bag.
  • The drain stops draining, or much less drains than usual.
  • The drain has come out or moved, or the ink mark is in a new place.
  • Leaking around the tube.
  • The tube leaks when you flush it.
  • You cannot flush the tube, or flushing hurts.
  • Pain, redness, swelling, warmth or pus where the tube goes in.
  • New or worse yellow skin or eyes.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • New or worse belly pain.
  • You cannot pass stool or gas.
  • The tap is broken or open.
  • The tubing has a kink you cannot straighten.

IR team phone: added by the hospital before launch After hours, or if you can’t reach them: go to the nearest emergency department.

Not sure? Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, any time, day or night. Questions that are not urgent. You cannot reach the IR team and are not sure how urgent something is.

Read the full guide

Open the full guide to see the procedure step by step, what to expect before and after, and questions to ask your doctor.

Web address: added before launch

QR code Added once the site has its final address

General information, not medical advice. Your care team knows your situation and makes decisions with you.

Pathway P-008 · Biliary drain handout · Version 0.5 · 14 October 2026 · Draft