Final answer:
Fogarty biliary catheters are used to remove or crush stones in the biliary tree and for decompression in cases of biliary system obstruction, such as obstructive jaundice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fogarty Biliary Catheters
Fogarty biliary catheters are primarily used to remove or crush stones in the biliary tree when other methods, such as endoscopic retrieval, are not successful or feasible. They can also be used for decompression of the biliary system in cases of obstruction. For example, obstructive jaundice caused by bile duct stones can lead to increased levels of conjugated bilirubin in the blood, and the catheter can help in relieving this condition.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a related procedure sometimes used alongside these catheters. During ERCP, the physician may place a Fogarty catheter to remove obstructions from the bile duct. If gallbladder function tests, gallbladder scans, or other imaging modalities like magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography reveal issues such as cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis, a Fogarty biliary catheter might be considered for therapeutic intervention in the biliary tree obstruction.