[Application of biliary stents in endoscopic stenting of biliary ducts]

Extra hepatic bile ducts with the gallbladder are the center place for many disease processes. In extreme cases of significant strictures of bile ducts and impairment of bile flow, obstructive jaundice occurs. There are benign and malignant biliary strictures. The treatment of obstructive jaundice depends on the removal of blockage using endoscopic and surgical methods which return the efficient bile flow to the digestive tract. The endoscopic treatment from Vater's papilla access using plastic and metal stents is the method of choice. The choice of proper prosthesis depends on the reason for biliary strictures. The plastic stents (straight, pigtail) are applied the most. Due to their low cost, easy insertion to biliary ducts and exchangeability, they are applied in benign and malignant strictures. However, metal stents (Wallstent, Diamond, Z-stent, InStent), due to the wide diameter after expansion and no possibility of removal, are applied only in malignant strictures. Endoscopic insertion of biliary endoprostheses can be burdened with complications. There have been reports of occlusion, migration with duodenal wall injury and hemorrhaging.