Percutaneous placement of biliary metallic stent for treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of percutaneous placement of biliary stent for treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice.Methods Biliary metallic stent was percutaneously inserted in 32 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice from Oct.2000 to Oct.2004.There were 17 cases of cholangiocarcinoma,5 cases of pancreatocarcinoma,10 cases of hepatic hiliar metatic carcinoma.The biliary obstruction was located in the common bile duct,the common hepatic duct in 12 and 20 patients respectively.Results The technical successful rate was 100%.Two cases had infection and one case had bleeding after release of the stent.The serum bilirubim level was remarkably declined to normal in 3～4 weeks in 28 cases.The jaundice disappearing rate was 87.5%.The survival time was 13-18 months(mean 8 months).Obstructive jaundice reappeared after release of the stent in 6.8 and 13 months in 3 patients.Jaundice recurrent rate was 9%.Conclusion Treating obstructive jaundice with a metallic is a relatively simple and effective method in the management of malignant obstructive jaundice.