Percutaneous therapy of malignant biliary obstruction using metallic stents - Prospective study comprising 92 patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficiency of percutaneously placed metallic stents in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Patients and methods: In a prospective study 92 consecutive patients with malignant biliary obstruction were treated percutaneously with expandable metallic stents. Technical and clinical parameters during the procedure and regular follow-up were evaluated. Results: Technical and clinical success rates were 100 and 91% respectively. During stent implantation we observed no severe complications. 30-day morbidity and mortality were 12 and 13% respectively. Late complications occurred in 35%, in 20.7% due to reocclusion of the bile ducts which was treated successfully in 17/19 patients. 75% of patients benefited from the procedure. Primary and secondary patency were 79.3 and 97.8%, respectively. Conclusions: Percutaneous transhepatic implantation of expandable metallic stents is a reliable and safe therapy for malignant jaundice and has a definite positive impact on the patients' quality of life.