To evaluate the clinical use of gabexate for preventing pancreatitis during percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) by external drainage and internal drainage.

A total of 38 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice were studied of which external and internal drainage will be placed or biliary stents will be placed. 300 mg gabexate was used in order to prevent the occurrence of acute pancreatitis in 14 patients 30 min to 2 h before the PTBD procedure. A total of 24 patients without gabexate were included as the control group. After 6 h of fasting, blood amylase was exam for pancreatitis diagnosis with or without abdominal pain, and other symptoms. Once pancreatitis was diagnosed, octreotide acetate 0.1 g was used per times, 2~3 times a day, while the changes of serum and urine amylase was surveyed.

Only 1 case in gabexate group was found with blood amylase increasing, while 10 patients of pancreatitis in control group. The incidence of acute pancreatitis were significantly different (P<0.05).

Appropriate use of trypsin inhibitor (gabexate mesilate), which can effectively prevent the occurrence of complications of acute pancreatitis when external and internal drainage should be appropriate placed. However, the use of the drug rice-performance ratio is still subject to further investigation and a large sample would be included.