PERCUTANEOUS BILIARY ENDOPROSTHESES - MAT ERIAL AND INDICATIONS

The results of percutaneous transhepatic endoprosthesis in the treatme nt of biliary stenosis are discussed on the basis of the reports of th e literature and a personal experience of more than 400 patients treat ed for about 15 years. Advantages and disadvantages of conventional st ents as compared with metal endoprosthesis are discussed, the latter b eing now prefered by most authors. However they do not prove to be mor e efficient than conventional stents which are suitable for those pati ents who have a relatively short life expectancy. Percutaneous treatme nt of benign biliary stenosis has grown as well but the choice of the best procedure remains difficult. Metal endoprostheses are controversi al because the risk of delayed obstruction has not yet been clearly ev aluated. However it might become an interesting therapeutic procedure in the future.