title: T-configured dual stent placement in malignant biliary hilar duct obstructions with a newly designed stent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the technical success and clinical efficacy of T-configured dual stent placement in the management of malignant biliary hilar duct obstructions with a newly designed stent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2001 and July 2002, 57 patients with malignant biliary hilar duct obstruction were treated with percutaneous transhepatic placement of two self-expandable metallic endoprostheses in a T configuration with use of a newly designed stent. The patients ranged in age from 46 to 85 years and included 37 men and 20 women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stent placement with two endoprostheses was successful in all patients. The mean survival and stent patency times were 193.6 days (range, 7-442 days) and 170.3 days (range, 7-305 days), respectively. There were no statistical differences in age, sex, or Bismuth type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T-configured dual stent placement with a newly designed stent is simple, safe, and reliable in achieving bilateral internal bile drainage in patients with malignant biliary hilar obstructions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Busan National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Auh Whan
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Whan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Suk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Suk Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome