PERCUTANEOUS SELF-EXPANDABLE METALLIC STE NTS AND MALIGNANT BILIARY STRICTURES

Method: Thirty-five patients with malignant obstructive jaundice were given palliative treatment by percutaneous self-expandable metallic st ents. Cholangiocarcinoma was the most frequent cause of biliary obstru ction. The stricture was located in the hilum in more of 50 % of cases . Results: adequate biliary drainage was achieved in 97 % of cases. Me dian survival was 182 days. 11 % of patients have died within 30 days. Early complications occurred in 31 % of patients. 25 % of patients ha ve shown recurrent jaundice after an average of 180 days. Conclusion: percutaneous self-expandable metallic stents are an efficient means tr eating malignant biliary strictures, particularly of upper biliary obs tructions.