Nonsurgical internal biliary drainage by endoprosthesis.

Insertion of an endoprostheses for internal biliary drainage was attempted upon 150 patients with obstructive jaundice. It was successful in 123 patients, and 99 patients had permanent drainage with the endoprosthesis. The plasma bilirubin level became normal in 64 of the patients. The effect upon jaundice was equal to that in 43 patients who underwent operation with palliative surgical bypass. The median survival time was not different from that for the patients with surgical anastomoses. Twenty-eight patients died in the first month after insertion, mostly of advanced malignant disease. Fifteen of the patients in the group with surgical anastomoses died within the first month. The insertion of an endoprosthesis for bile duct obstruction is relatively easy and seems to have little risk. Most complications are caused by the transhepatic cholangiography procedure. The method may be used for temporary drainage before operation, in transient benign obstructions or as permanent drainage in unresectable lesions. In patients with dislodgement or insufficient function, additional endoprosthesis may be inserted. Thus, sufficient palliation of jaundice is achieved with a low frequency of cholangitis. Internal biliary drainage by insertion of an endoprosthesis is a valuable alternative to surgical bypass in patients with unresectable lesions.