To aid in the management of patients with internal biliary drainage catheters, biliary pressure readings are routinely taken. If the pressure is below the secretory pressure of bile (20-30 cm H2O), adequate internal biliary drainage is assured. This is a fast, simple, and reliable technique which can be performed at home by the patient or a visiting nurse. The need to exchange a catheter can now be based on the objective measurement of the biliary pressure.