Improved biliary decompression with large caliber endoscopic prostheses.

In the past, nonsurgical decompression for biliary obstruction by the endoscopist was limited by the small size of the 5F drain and required insertion of two drains or larger ones. New endoscopes provide a larger channel permitting more effective decompression with 7F catheters, but occlusion remains a problem. A prototype instrument with a channel large enough to insert a 10F drain was used in 43 patients with decreased frequency of occlusion.