The self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) has been widely used for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction but eventually becomes occluded by tumor ingrowth/overgrowth and sludge. Therefore, we aimed to determine the therapeutic effectiveness of secondary stents and to find differences according to various combinations of the first and second stents for the management of occluded SEMSs in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction.
Comparison of outcomes among secondary covered metallic, uncovered metallic, and plastic biliary stents in treating occluded primary metallic stents in malignant distal biliary obstruction.
Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School, Yonsei University College of Medicine, and Sanggye Paik Hospital, 250 Seongsanno (134 Sinchon-Dong), Seodaemun-Ku, 120-752, Seoul, South Korea.