Nonresectable malignant bile duct obstruction. Surgical bypass or endoprosthesis?

Forty-one patients with malignant obstructive jaundice, not amenable to radical surgery, had biliary decompression by either surgical bypass or endoscopically introduced endoprosthesis. The two treatment groups were statistically comparable with reservation for age, which was significantly lower in the operated group. Judged by the effect on bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels the two methods were equally efficient. Major complications were more common and initial hospital stay was significantly longer in the surgical bypass group. Neither early mortality nor survival differed between the groups. Implications of these data in the management of patients with unresectable malignancy are discussed.