Is. Kaskarelis et al., Long-term follow-up in patients with malignant biliary obstruction after percutaneous placement of uncovered wallstent endoprostheses, ACT RADIOL, 40(5), 1999, pp. 528-533
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.