Biliary drainage endoprostheses: experience with 201 placements.
Two hundred one biliary endoprostheses were inserted transhepatically with a two-step procedure in 162 patients. Teflon endoprostheses were inserted in the initial 95 patients and polyethylene in seven others. Because in vitro experiments and clinical experience have revealed a lower incrustation rate with Percuflex and polyurethane, endoprostheses made of these materials were used in the last 60 patients. The mortality rate directly related to the procedure was 3.7%, and postprocedural complications occurred in 9% of the patients. Delayed complications included cholangitis in 20%, obstruction in 6%, and dislocation in 3% of the cases. The mean survival time of all 162 patients was 20 weeks. It is concluded that endoprostheses offer effective palliative treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by malignancy.
Lammer
J
J
Neumayer
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001652:Bile Ducts; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002758:Cholangiography; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000150:complications; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019736:Prostheses and Implants