Ultrasonography-guided endoscopic stent placement for malignant biliary obstruction: a preliminary report of four cases.

We present a new combination of transabdominal ultrasound (US) and biliary endoscopy, with endoscopic stent placement carried out under US guidance. Four patients (two men, two women; average age 66.2 years) underwent US-guided stent placement for palliation of ampullary carcinoma (n = 3) or pancreatic cancer (n = 1). A guide wire and a guiding catheter were endoscopically introduced and identified, by US in the common bile duct across the stricture. Hydromer-coated polyurethane angled stents (10 Fr) were finally inserted over the guide wire/guiding catheter by a pusher tube system. Successful drainage, with substantial reduction in bilirubin level, was achieved in all patients (14.2 +/- 9.5 vs. 4.2 +/- 2.9 mg/dl at 1 week). The present case series shows that endoscopic stent placement performed under US guidance is safe and effective. Further studies of larger series, including more proximal strictures, are warranted.