[Internal bile duct drainage using self-expanding metal stents in benign and malignant bile duct obstruction]

Within a 4-year period, 24 patients were treated by internal biliary drainage using self-expanding wall stents. In 3 patients, a benign and in 21 patients a malignant obstruction were present. The stents were successfully placed in all cases with an incomplete tumour coverage in three cases. Complete relief of icteric symptoms was seen in 18 out of 24 cases. Acute complications requiring additional treatment occurred in 5 patients. Average survival time was 93 days for malignant disease and 26 months for benign lesions. Cumulative patency after 200 days was 63% for stents placed in malignant obstructions. Stents in benign obstructions remained open in all cases.