title: [Clinical evaluation of biliary endoprostheses. A comparison of endoprostheses made of teflon and percuflex].
abstract: For the decompression of the biliary tree in case of obstructive neoplastic jaundice, 62 biliary endoprostheses were placed in 54 patients as an alternative to internal-external drainage. Teflon prostheses were used in 26 patients--which were placed in the stenotic tract--while in 28 patients soft percuflex prostheses were used, whose lower extremity was placed in the duodenum. The mean survival has been 6-7 months, with peaks ranging from 1 month to 2 years. By comparing the results obtained with the two different kinds of prosthesis we found that soft endoprostheses were associated with a lower incidence of late complications than teflon prostheses: cholangitis occurred in 7.2% of cases (vs teflon: 16%), occlusions in 3.5% (vs teflon: 11.5%), migrations in 7.2% (vs teflon: 7.6%). The incidence of such complications was, however, higher a few months after the application of the prosthesis. This palliative treatment is suggested in patients whose expected survival is not longer than 1-6 months. On the contrary, in case of patients with a better prognosis, an internal-external catheter drainage is preferred, for an easier access to the site of the lesion.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011108:Polymers; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; C048365:percuflex TM; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene
vernacular_title: Valutazione clinica delle endoprotesi biliari. Confronto tra endoprotesi in teflon ed in percuflex.