A large-bore teflon endoprosthesis with side holes for nonoperative decompression of the biliary tract in malignant obstructive jaundice.

A large-bore Teflon tube with side holes was used for nonsurgical palliative bile drainage in eight patients with malignant tumors. The drainage period ranged from 5 to 26 weeks. The bile drainage through the endoprosthesis was regarded as optimal in two patients, satisfactory in four, and ineffective in two. Significant complications of the method are intervening bile duct infections, risk of sepsis, spontaneous dislodgement, and occlusion of the endoprosthesis.