Surgery or Endoprosthesis for Malignant Obstructive Jaundice

Shepherd HA, Royle G, Ross APR, Diba A, Arthur M and Colin-Jones D (1988) Endoscopic biliary endoprosthesis in the palliation ofmalignant obstruction of the distal common bile duct." a randomized trial. British Journal ofSurgery; 75.’1166-1168 A total of 52 jaundiced elderly patients who had malignant obstruction of the distal common bile duct and who required palliative biliary decompression were randomized to 370 HPB INTERNATIONAL receive either an endoscopically placed biliary endoprosthesis (10 French gauge) or conventional surgical bypass. Patients within the two treatment groups were well matched and 51 were followed until their death. Patients treated with endoprosthesis had a significantly shorter initial hospital stay than those treated surgically. In the long term, overall survival in the two groups was similar and jaundice was relieved in over 90 per cent of patients. Despite more re-admissions to hospital for those patients treated endoscopicaily, the total time spent in hospital still remained significantly shorter in this treatment group compared with those subjected to surgery. The endoscopically placed biliary endoprosthesis is a valuable alternative to conventional surgical bypass in the palliation of extrahepatic biliary obstruction.