Management of malignant biliary obstruction with self-expanding metal stents

Background: Self-expanding metal stents for the palliation of malignant biliary obstruction are used from the late 1980s. This report presents our own experiences. Patients and methods: Between 2000 and 2004, 32 patients (17 women and 15 men) with a mean age of 73.2 years (range 45–94) with inoperable malignant biliary obstruction were treated with self-expanding metal stent via the endoscopic retrograde route at our institution. There were 15 cancers of pancreas, 4 cholangiocarcinomas, 6 gallbladder cancers with infiltration of common bile duct and hepatic duct, 2 papillary carcinomas and 5 cases of nodal compr…