[Results of the use of endoprostheses in the treatment of retained common bile duct stones].
BACKGROUND
The value of endoprostheses for long term management of bile duct stones has not been formally established. A retrospective evaluation of results and complications of the insertion of biliary endoprostheses was performed in patients with endoscopic irretrievable bile duct stones.


METHODS
From January 1990 to September 1999, 52 patients (19 men and 33 women; average age 76 years), underwent endoscopic biliary stenting for endoscopically irretrievable bile duct stones.


RESULTS
Successful biliary drainage was achieved in 50/52 (96.1%) patients. Early complications occurred in 11.5% of cases. Over the long term follow-up (average follow-up = 39.5 months) late complications occurred in 40.8% of cases, with 3 cases of biliary-related death.


CONCLUSIONS
For immediate bile duct drainage, endoprostheses proved a safe and effective alternative for treatment of patients with endoscopically irretrievable bile duct stones. Because of the risk of subsequent complications, its use as a definitive treatment should be confirmed to highly selected cases.
De Palma
G D
GD
Servizio Centralizzato di Endoscopia Digestiva Operatoria, Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale e Tecnologie Avanzate, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirugia, Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli.
Galloro
G
G
Siciliano
S
S
Magno
L
L
Catanzano
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors