Experiences with 89 biliary self expandable metal stents

Background: Pancreatobiliary malignancies usually cause biliary obstruction during their course. The palliative management of inoperable patients (pts) is relatively well established. In jaundiced pts without duodenal obstruction the endoscopic biliary drainage is the method of choice. The self expandable biliary metal stents have been proven as cost-effective solution of the malignant stricture in pts with relatively good (as many as 6 months) life expectancy. Patients and methods: We have treated 89 pts with inoperable biliopancreatic tumors using self expandable metal stents (Microvasive/Gianturco uncovered s…