Long-term follow-up in patients with malignant biliary obstruction after percutaneous placement of uncovered wallstent endoprostheses

Purpose: Evaluation of the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice by p ercutaneous insertion of uncovered stents. Material and Methods: 51 patients (35 men, 16 women) with inoperable malign ant biliary obstruction underwent percutaneous placement of uncovered Walls tent biliary endoprostheses. A total of 65 endoprostheses were inserted. Results: The technical success rate was 98%, and the procedure-related comp lications rate was 10%. Early complications rate within the first 30 days w as 2%. The clinical success rate within the first 30 days was 98% and the 3 0-day mortality rate was 2%. The late complications rate was 16%. The overa ll stent occlusion rate was 18% at a mean of 288.4 days. Mean survival time of the 50 patients was 214 days, and the mean total duration of hospital s tay was 9.8 days. Conclusions: The advantages of uncovered Wallstent endoprostheses justify t heir placement in patients with inoperable malignant obstructive jaundice s ince patients' quality of life is markedly improved. Stent insertion is ass ociated with a low complication rate, most stents remain patent longer than the patients' survival time and patients' hospital stay is relatively shor t.