Efficacy of biliary endoprostheses using expandable metallic stents in obstructive jaundice--long-term results of three different types of stent]

Three types of expandable metallic stents were used to relieve obstructive jaundice in 59 patients. They consisted of 3 cases with benign stricture, and 56 with malignant obstruction including 28 of cholangiocarcinoma, 17 of pancreatic carcinoma, 9 of lymph node metastases, and 2 of gall bladder carcinoma. The median age of patients was 68.9 years. Of 56 cases with malignant obstruction, 51 cases were able to remove external drainage catheter. In these 51 cases, 35 patients died, and 16 are still alive. No significant difference was noted in the incidence of stent destruction or migration in three types of stents. The average survival period was 189.9 days in 35 patients who died after withdrawal of external drainage. Twenty-three of 35 patients had no recurrence of obstructive jaundice. Sixteen patients with malignant obstruction are still alive and have been observed for 22 to 764 days. The 30 day mortality rate was 6.8%. Three cases of acute cholecystitis were noted after procedure. It is warranted to say that endoprostheses using expandable metallic stents will be the major treatment of choice for biliary obstruction because of long term patency and low complication rate.