[Endoscopic insertion of endoprostheses in malignant extrahepatic bile duct stenoses]

In the vast majority of patients with malignant biliary strictures endoscopic insertion of biliary endoprostheses leads to good palliation with decline of the jaundice and disappearence of the pruritus. The prostheses are positioned immediately after diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, thus causing only minor additional discomfort for the patients. The insertion technique is difficult, but success rates between 70 and 90% are achieved by experienced endoscopists. Complications occur in 10 to 20% and mortality is 2-3%. Thus, endoscopically inserted endoprostheses have become a good alternative to the percutaneous transhepatic procedure and in many cases even to palliative surgical biliary drainage.