Biliary stenting for the treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice: comparison study of different metallic stents

Objective To evaluate the patency rate of two types of metallic biliary stent in treating malignant biliary stenosis, and to discuss the patient's survival rate. Methods A total of 126 patients with malignant biliary stenosis were treated with percutaneous implantation of biliary stent. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 167 metallic biliary stents were used in 126 patients. Ninety-two metal stents of mesh type were employed in 70 cases, while 75 metal stents of laser engraving type were adopted in56 cases. After the treatment all patients were followed up, and the stent patency time as well as the median survival time was determined. The results were analyzed and compared between the two types of stents.Results Technical success rate was 100%(126/126). The median patency rate time of mesh type and laser type was 182 days and 196 days respectively, the patient's median survival time of mesh type group and laser type group was 179 days and 186 days respectively. No statistically significant differences in the stent patency time and in the median survival time existed between the two groups(P 0.05). Conclusion In treating malignant biliary obstruction with stenting, the mesh type stent and the laser type stent have quite same therapeutic effect. Therefore, in clinical practice the two types of stent can be replaced with each other to a certain degree.