[Biliary endoprosthesis using Gore-Tex covered expandable metallic stents: preliminary clinical evaluation].

Six patients with biliary obstruction caused by pancreatic carcinoma were treated with Gore-Tex covered EMS. In all cases cholangioscopy revealed massive tumor in the bile duct lumen, but all stents expanded well and equalled the caliber of the bile duct. Slipping migration was observed in 2 patients, in whom external drainage catheters could not be removed. In the remaining 4 patients, re-obstruction was not observed during 1-12 months follow-up. Covered stents can avoid rapid obstruction and prevent early occlusion of bile duct by tumor ingrowth into the lumen.