PERCUTANEOUS BILIARY ENDOPROSTHESES - A 6 YEARS EXPERIENCE

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and long term pe rmeability of percutaneous biliary endoprotheses. Seventy three patien ts with biliary tract obstruction due to a primary malignant tumor (n = 60), lymph node metastases at the porta hepatis (n = 10) and benign stenosis of a biliary-enteric anastomosis (n = 3), were treated betwee n 1985 and 1990. Plastic protheses were installed in 63 patients and m etallic in 10. The procedure had a 30% incidence of complications. Thi rty three percent of the protheses remained patent until patient's dea th. In 15 and 40% of patients, signs of prothesis obstruction were obs erved three and six months after instalation respectively, bearing in mind a mean survival of 24 weeks. In 90% of patients there was a clini cal and laboratory improvement. Mortality was 30% at 30 days in the gr oup of patients with malignant diseases. It is concluded that the inst allation of percutaneous biliary endoprotheses is a relatiely safe and well tolerated procedure, with a low incidence of complications or mo rtality and that allows an effective biliary decompression.